PHIVOLCS monitoring stations before lifting tsunami warning

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Wednesday said it is monitoring its stations for any sign of a tsunami before lifting the alert after a major earthquake struck Russia’s eastern Kamchatka Peninsula. 

Mary Ann Gatdula, PHIVOLCS seismology division science research assistant, said the agency would wait for an additional two hours after the expected arrival of tsunami waves before canceling the tsunami alert.

“Tinitingnan natin ‘yung mga tsunami warning systems o sea level monitoring station na puwede maka-detect o tala ng data kung may mairerecord na tsunami dito sa east coast ng Pilipinas,” Gatdula told Super Radyo dzBB.

(We are closely monitoring our tsunami warning systems or sea level monitoring stations that can detect or record data of tsunamis on the east coast of the Philippines.)

“Kahit tapos na ang oras na binigay natin, naghihintay pa tayo ng dalawang oras bago magkansela ng ating advisory na binigay kanina,” he said.

(Even if the expected time for arrival has passed, we’re waiting for another two hours before canceling the advisory.)

Gatdula also advised individuals who were evacuated to wait for the cancellation announcement before returning to their homes to ensure their safety.

“Hindi kasi natin sigurado kung safe na nga ba makabalik na ang ating mga kababayan. Para mas safe sila at maclear na natin na wala ng tsunami na dadating sa atin, maghintay sila ng advisory mula sa ating ahensya para mabigyan sila ng advisory na itong minor sea level disturbance na binigay natin ay kinakansela na ng PHIVOLCS,” she added.

(We’re still not sure if it is safe for them to return to their homes. To ensure their safety, we advise them to wait for an advisory from our agency that we are lifting the advisory on minor sea level disturbance.)

PHIVOLCS earlier warned that coastal areas on the eastern side of the country fronting the Pacific Ocean were expected to experience a tsunami of less than one meter.

State seismologists said the first tsunami waves may arrive between 1:20 p.m. and 2:40 p.m., July 30. They said it may not be the largest, and the waves may continue for hours.

PHIVOLCS advised the public to be alert for unusual waves and stay away from the beach and not go to the coast of the following provinces until the cancellation of the advisory:

• Batanes Group of Islands
• Cagayan
• Isabela
• Aurora
• Quezon
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Catanduanes
• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur
• Davao del Norte
• Davao Oriental
• Davap Occidental
• Davao del Sur
• Davao de Oro

Classes were suspended in some areas in Davao due to the tsunami advisory.

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government ordered the preemptive evacuation of residents living in the affected coastal areas.

All districts of the Philippine Coast Guard were also placed on alert. —VBL, GMA Integrated News