The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) saidon Sunday the Philippines was spared from the devastating tsunami that hit several Asian countries Sunday.

The Philippines is far from the epicenter of the strong earthquake that caused the tsunami, the agency said.

More than 6,000 people were feared dead in what is believed to be the world's fifth-largest quake in a century, which hit severalAsian countries including Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The Philippine government is trying to determine whether there are casualties among the Filipinos working in Thailand.

"We are still monitoring developments," the office of Ambassador to Bangkok Antonio Rodriguez said in a statement.

Nearly 200 people, including a number of Western holiday-makers,were killed and more than 2,300 injured in southern Thai resorts after the major earthquake hit Southeast Asia on Sunday, causing tidal waves and flooding.