THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) advised the public to stay away from the beach on Wednesday, July 30, following a powerful magnitude 8.7 earthquake that struck off Russia’s eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.
In its advisory, state seismologists warned Filipinos in coastal areas facing the Pacific Ocean against possible “tsunami wave heights of less than one meter,” with the first tsunami waves expected to arrive between 1:20 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. on Wednesday.
“It may not be the largest and these waves may continue for hours,” Phivolcs said.
In the meantime, the public is advised to refrain from going to the coast of the following provinces:
- Batanes Group of Islands
- Cagayan
- Isabela
- Aurora
- Quezon
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Catanduanes
- Northern Samar
- Eastern Samar
- Leyte
- Southern Leyte
- Dinagat Islands
- Surigao del Norte
- Surigao del Sur
- Davao del Norte
- Davao Oriental
- Davao Occidental
- Davao del Sur
- Davao de Oro
Residents who are near the shoreline of the above-mentioned provinces are also advised to “move farther inland.”
“Owners of boats in harbors, estuaries, or shallow coastal water of the above-mentioned provinces should secure their boats and move away from the waterfront,” Phivolcs said.
“Boats already at sea during this period should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised,” it added.
Aside from the Philippines, tsunami alerts have been issued in Russia, Hawaii, Japan, and Alaska. Hawaii Governor Josh Green has urged residents to immediately evacuate coastal zones before the expected tsunami waves reach their area “as early as 7:10 p.m.”
