Two Russian tourists died when they were swept away by strong undercurrents while scuba diving in waters south of Manila, with one believed to have drowned and the other attacked by sharks, a Philippine coast guard official said on Friday.

Two men from Russia have died after a strong current in the Philippines swept them out to sea, the country's coast guard confirmed on Friday.

Officials say that the duo - who were part of a group of four - were separated by strong undercurrents and swept into the path of a shiver of ravenous sharks near Batangas in the Philippines