Families were trapped under collapsed homes following a powerful earthquake in the Philippines, as rescuers raced to save them.

Footage shows rubble, with locals attempting to save distressed residents stranded beneath crumpled structures in Cebu on September 30.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) confirmed the tremor measured a magnitude of 6.9 and was centred 21 kilometres northeast of Bogo City, Cebu, at a shallow depth of 5 kilometres. The quake was tectonic in nature.

Extensive structural damage has been reported across the region, with several buildings either partially or entirely destroyed.

Authorities have confirmed at least 69 fatalities, with the death toll expected to rise as more bodies are brought to local hospitals. A further 147 people have been reported injured.

The city of Bogo and several nearby towns and municipalities have since declared a state of calamity.

Officials said 611 aftershocks, ranging in magnitude from 1.4 to 4.8, have been recorded so far.

Phivolcs Director Dr Teresito Bacolcol told local media: 'We expect more aftershocks in the coming days. In some cases, these can continue for several weeks'

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