Phivolcs: No tsunami threat to PHL from Chile quake

After hours of monitoring sea-level changes, state seismologists on Wednesday afternoon determined there is no tsunami threat to the Philippines from a magnitude-8.2 quake that hit Chile.

In an updated bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had canceled its tsunami warning and watch for South American and Pacific Island countries near the epicenter.

"With this information and the relative distance of the tsunami source to the Philippines, Phivolcs does not expect a destructive tsunami threat to the Philippines from this event. As such, no evacuation is needed," it said in its 2 p.m. bulletin.

It also cited reports indicating tsunami waves were monitored in tide gauges with a maximum wave height of 2.11 meters in Pisagua, Chile but less than 0.5 meter in most sea-level monitoring stations that recorded these waves.

By 12:43 p.m., or nearly five hours after the event, PTWC canceled its tsunami warning and watch in these countries, Phivolcs said. — Joel Locsin/BM, GMA News