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Phivolcs: No tsunami threat in PHL despite aftershocks in Japan


The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) allayed fears of a tsunami in the country because of the strong aftershock that hit Japan on Monday morning. Phivolcs also appealed to the public not to issue tsunami warnings on their own via text messages. Phivolcs director Renato Solidum Jr. made the appeal amid reports that text messages are being circulated, saying that a tsunami may threaten the Philippines following another aftershock in Japan. "Maraming nagtatanong kung may lindol at tsunami warning ... Basta ang official warning sa amin manggagaling (We have received many inquiries on whether there is a tsunami warning in the Philippines. We hav to stress the official warning can come only from us)," Solidum said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said the latest tremor that hit Japan — measuring magnitude 5.1 at 9:57 a.m. (Manila time) — will not pose a threat to the Philippines. Solidum pointed out that even if there were an aftershock measuring up to magnitude 7.5, it cannot generate a tsunami wave that can affect the Philippines. "Kahit 8.9 sa Biyernes one meter lang yan ... Pwede mag-issue ang Japan ng tsunami warning para sa Japan," he said. (Even if Friday's quake measured magnitude 8.9, the maximum height of tsunami waves expected to reach the Philippines had been forecast at one meter. Keep in mind that if Japan issues a tsunami warning, it is only for Japan.) The United States Geological Survey said the latest quake in Japan was recorded off the east coast of Honshu. The USGS said the epicenter was 40 kilometers (km) east-southeast of Iwaki, Honshu, Japan; 174 km east of Mito, Honshu, Japan; 196 km east-southeast of Koriyama, Honshu, Japan; or 261 km east-northeast of Tokyo, Japan. A Reuters report said Kyodo news agency had quoted authorities in Japan as saying that the new tsunami could be up to a height of three-meters and issued an alert for the country's Pacific coast, including Fukushima prefecture, which was hit hard by Friday's disaster. — with a report from Reuters/RSJ/VVP, GMA News

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