Phivolcs issues tsunami alert, warns 19 areas after quake off Solomon Islands

State seismologists on Wednesday advised residents in 19 areas to prepare for possible evacuation following a magnitude-8 quake near Santa Cruz Island in the Pacific Ocean. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issued a Tsunami Alert Level 1 following the quake recorded at 9:12 a.m. "Phivolcs Tsunami Alert Level is 1. No evacuation order is in effect but communities along the east coast of the country... are advised to wait for further information and to prepare for possible evacuation," it said. Advised to prepare for possible evacuation were:

"Phivolcs is monitoring the sea level changes in the epicentral area and will relay significant observations to  concerned authorities," Phivolcs said. It noted an earthquake of this size may potentially generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours. Also, it noted the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii will monitor sea level gauges nearest the region and report if any tsunami wave activity is observed. — LBG, GMA News