KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia has conveyed its condolences and sympathies to the government and people of the Philippines following the devastating earthquake that struck Cebu and neighbouring areas.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia mourns with the people of the Philippines over the tragic loss of lives and the hardship endured by many families.

“On behalf of the government and people of Malaysia, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the Philippines, especially to the families who have lost their loved ones.

“Our thoughts and prayers are also with the injured, the displaced and all those whose lives have been disrupted by this tragedy,” he said in a Facebook posting today.

The Prime Minister added that Malaysia stands in full solidarity with the Philippines and is ready to support relief and recovery efforts.

“We pray that the strength and resilience of the Filipino people will carry them through these difficult days,” Anwar said.

On Tuesday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially reported that a 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Cebu province at 9.59pm local time. The institute later revised the magnitude to 6.9, adding that the quake struck at a depth of 5km, approximately 19km northeast of Bogo City, Xinhua reported.

The tremor was also felt in many neighbouring provinces in the central Philippines, as well as some regions in the south of the country.

Media reported that at least 69 people were killed in the earthquake, with the death toll continuing to rise as the government mobilised agencies to search for survivors.