Passenger ship travel in Samal, Davao City suspended due to tsunami advisory

Passenger ship operations in Samal Island and Davao City were temporarily suspended on Wednesday following the issuance of a tsunami advisory after a powerful earthquake struck Russia’s eastern Kamchatka Peninsula. 

According to a report of Super Radyo Davao’s King Pandia, sea trips to and from Samal Island and Davao City had been suspended as of 2:07 p.m. 

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (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 of 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