PHIVOLCS cancels tsunami alert after strong Sarangani quake

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has canceled the tsunami alert it issued earlier following a magnitude-7.2 earthquake that struck off Sarangani in Davao Occidental early Saturday.

In an advisory issued at 6:54 a.m. Saturday, the agency said that "there is no longer a tsunami threat for this event." 

"This will be the final tsunami information issued for this...," it added.

PHIVOLCS said that Sarangani's sea level has showed a drop of approximately 30 centimeter and a maximum rise of approximately 10 cm, which it described as a "wave height relative to normal sea level."

It added that sea level fluctuations in the area is expected to continue.

PHIVOLCS earlier issued a Sea Level Disturbance advisory, alerting affected areas to strong currents and the rapid rise and fall of sea-water. 

It advised the public from the province of Sarangani, Davao Occidental, South Cotabato, Davao Oriental and Sultan Kudarat to be alert for unsual waves as the Philippine Sea and other coastal areas fronting the Celebes Sea are expected to experience wave heights. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/LBG, GMA News