Sept 30 (Reuters) - At least five people have died

following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake in the

Philippines, ABS-CBN, the country's largest broadcaster,

reported on Wednesday, citing the police.

The earthquake that struck off the coast of Cebu City late

on Tuesday led to power outages and damaged buildings in the

region.

The U.S. Geological Survey pegged the depth of the quake

at 10 km (6.2 miles) and recorded multiple aftershocks in the

region following the earthquake, with the strongest aftershock a

magnitude of 6.

Another monitoring agency said there was no tsunami

threat following the quake.

Cebu City, located in the Philippines' central Visayas

region, has a population of nearly 1 million, according to the

USGS.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ian Po, police chief of Villaba in

the central province of Leyte, said the quake lasted for around

10 seconds. The police station building was visibly shaking from

the tremor, he said.

Police Colonel Enrico Figueroa, chief of the Cebu City

police, said some pole-mounted transformers exploded during the

earthquake.

AFP also reported that the earthquake had damaged buildings

and roads and knocked out power in parts of the region, with

rescuers searching for possible casualties.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

Philippine seismology agency Phivolcs had warned of

aftershocks and damage from the offshore tremor. It also warned

that "strong currents and rapid changes of seawater level are

expected".

"The concerned public is advised to be on alert for

unusual waves," it said in an advisory.

Philippine lies in the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where

volcanic activity and earthquakes are common.