[View the story "Phivolcs website down following Aug. 31 quake" on Storify ]Phivolcs website down following Aug. 31 quake Online Pinoys were frustrated that the Philippines' state seismology agency could not be reached online, just when the public was most in need of its services. Storified by TJ Dimacali · Fri, Aug 31 2012 09:17:39
The website of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) was inaccessible following the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that hit off the coast of Samar at around 8:45pm on August 31.  As of midnight, there was no official statement yet from the agency. People also pointed out that, unlike PAGASA and other government agencies, Phivolcs apparently does not have active social media accounts.
On his official Twitter account, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III affirmed that the Phivolcs website did seem to be down following the quake. However, he quickly pointed out that government advisories were also available on the Tumblr page of The Official Gazette :
@mlq3 Sir, is the PHIVOLCS website down?Mark Pere Madrona
@marksphere Seems so. Pls. see http://bit.ly/QJ3O5SManuel L. Quezon III
@mlq3 Thanks for the info, Sir. Any possibility po that the PHIVOLCS website can be fixed soon?Mark Pere Madrona
@marksphere We will certainly look into this but let's all concentrate on prompt advisories at this time.Manuel L. Quezon III
Here are other reactions voiced by online Pinoys on Twitter:
Secretary Manolo Quezon III has confirmed to me via Twitter that the PHIVOLCS website is indeed down as of the moment.Mark Pere Madrona
WTH! PHIVOLCS official website keep on crashing... How do we get Tsunami updates from our very own agency?... http://fb.me/26mZWBLn0Cebu Tech Blogger
PHIVOLCS website, please load.... wala bang mirror site?Sarina Mae Garcia
@dost_pagasa best time for your PhiVolcs website to be down. Please fix.Paul Biluan
Phivolcs reported in its website that the quake's epicenter was located at 112 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. -> my Hometown!Pinkish Purple
Na-quake din ang website ng Phivolcs at di mabuksan. THE IRONY. It only works when you don't need it.Pia Faustino
@MariRamosCNN no, PHIVOLCS is not on twitter . No idea why not! Website is down as well.Claudine Trillo
i think Phivolcs should create a twitter account! down pa yung website nila, hirap tuloy ng info dissemination! >.
@dost_pagasa any update about the earthquake? I can't view the website of Phivolcs. Im here in Saudi Arabi. Im worried about my family thereRonald Hallasgo
ang tae ng website ng PHIVOLCS..down pa!! ano ba yan!!Rufino John Ecaldre
No information yet from Phivolcs website. Monitoring what magnitude and intensity. Damage is still being checked.EMS SOLUTIONS INT
Phivolcs website is useless. i cant open that dang page!!!!!yang
Na-quake din ang website ng Phivolcs at di mabuksan. THE IRONY. It only works when you don't need it.Pia Faustino
Phivolcs website, please cooperateKD Suarez
@nababaha Sir, PHIVOLCS website seems to be down while the bulletin page takes time to load/not updatedRachel Hermosura
kung kelan me lindol, nde maopen ang website ng phivolcsmichael agustin
Where in the world is phivolcs when you need them!? Website down!Earl Migriño (許仁明)
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