This is the moment snooker players ran for their lives when a magnitude 5.9 quake struck the Philippines on March 7.

Footage shows the players immersed in their games but stopping upon feeling the tremors at the snooker hall in Tagum city, Davao del Norte.

When the shaking grew stronger, they jumped out of their seats to flee to safety outside.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake struck at 2:02 pm at a depth of 10 kilometres. It was centred some eight kilometres southeast of New Bataan municipality in Davao de Oro province.

The agency said damage and aftershocks were expected.

The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands inside the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' where the majority of Earth's volcano eruptions and earthquakes happen.

This is the moment snooker players ran for their lives when a magnitude 5.9 quake struck the Philippines on Tuesday.

Footage shows the players immersed in their games but stopping upon feeling the tremors at the snooker hall in Tagum city, Davao del Norte on March 7 afternoon.

When the shaking grew stronger, they jumped out of their seats to flee to safety outside.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake struck at 2:02 pm at a depth of 10 kilometres. It was centred some eight kilometres southeast of New Bataan municipality in Davao de Oro province.

The agency said damage and aftershocks were expected.

The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands inside the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' where the majority of Earth's volcano eruptions and earthquakes happen.