Phivolcs: No tsunami threat in Batangas

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Tuesday assured Batangas residents that there was no immediate threat of a tsunami in their province. Philvocs director Renato Solidum said a tsunami will only occur if there is an earthquake in an area near the coastline. When a tsunami is impending, Solidum said, residents will be able to notice a recession of sea water even from a considerable distance. He said residents will also be able to hear a rumbling sound. He also said no one can predict when a tsunami will happen. Hundreds of residents in Matuod, Matabungkay, KayReyna and San Diego villages left their homes early Tuesday morning after an old man allegedly warned them of an approaching tsunami. For his part, Mayor Antonio Jose Barcelon of Nasugbu town in Batangas asked residents to remain calm because the tsunami threat has been determined to be a dud. A tsunami is a series of waves generated when a body of water, such as a lake or ocean is rapidly displaced on a massive scale. An earthquake tremor has the power to displace sea water, which in turn can trigger the formation of a tsunami. Landslides, volcanic eruptions and large meteorite impacts all have the potential to create a tidal wave. Large quantities of gas may be observed to be bubbling to the surface water, making the sea look as if it was boiling. The residents may also notice that the water in the waves to be unusually hot or may sting the skin. The water may also smell like rotten eggs (due to hydrogen sulfide) or of petrol or oil. A flash of red light might be seen near the horizon and as the wave approaches, the top of the wave may glow red. Earlier, Pagasa issued a disclaimer on reports circulating that a tsunami will hit Surigao on March 6. The state weather bureau said there is yet no scientific basis for issuing such a warning since there has been no strong earthquake monitored from either the Phivolcs or from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center of any tsunami that could possibly affect the region at this time.-GMANews.TV