PPA suspends port ops in areas covered by tsunami advisory

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Wednesday suspended port operations in coastal areas affected by a tsunami advisory issued after a powerful earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. 

PPA General Manager Jay Santiago issued a memorandum instructing all PPA Port Management Offices (PMOs) in the affected areas to suspend all port operations involving passenger embarkation and disembarkation, as well as cargo handling, effective 12 p.m. until further notice from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

Earlier, PHIVOLCS 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 beaches and coastal areas 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
• Davao Occidental
• Davao del Sur
• Davao de Oro

“We urge everyone to remain alert and cooperative as we work closely with our partner agencies to monitor the situation. The safety of our people is our utmost priority,” said Santiago.

Meanwhile, the PPA said it is coordinating with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), local government units (LGUs), and terminal operators, to closely monitoring sea-level disturbances to ensure public safety.

Alerts have been issued to all vessels currently docked or approaching ports, advising them to move to deeper waters if necessary, it added. 

Classes have been suspended in some areas in Davao due to the tsunami alert.

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

All PCG districts were also placed on alert.

PHIVOLCS said it is closely monitoring its stations for any sign of tsunami before lifting the tsunami alert. It also said it will wait for additional two hours after the expect arrival of tsunami waves before warning to ensure public safety. — RF, GMA Integrated News