The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Sunday afternoon has cancelled the tsunami alert issued after a powerful earthquake hit Chile Saturday.
“As of 3:00 p.m. 28 February 2010, Phivolcs has not received any reports of unusual significant sea level changes within the projected arrival period of tsunami waves in the Philippine coasts (1:00PM to 2:30PM),” the Phivolcs said in a bulletin posted on their web site. (Phivolcs web site: Tsunami Alert Cancellation)
Phivolcs issued tsunami alert level 1 on Saturday and elevated the warning to the second level on Sunday morning, advising the public to be on the lookout for “unusual waves” near the coast.
“By 4:30 p.m. on February 28, if no other significant sea level changes were observed, local authorities and the public can assume that the tsunami threat has passed. People may resume their normal activities,” added on Philvocs bulletin.
Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum denied that the agency had overreacted to the tsunami threat. “It is the response that matters most,” he told the ANC.
Villagers living near the Philippines’ eastern coast were advised to move to higher ground, as the Phivolcs warned of waves as high as a meter between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Local volcanologists, however, were quick to point out that the waves were unlikely to cause major damage.
The earthquake in Chile was far stronger than the one that struck Haiti last month, but the death toll only ran in the hundreds compared with Haiti’s about 220,000. The reason is since the South American country is wealthier and infinitely better prepared, with strict building codes, robust emergency response and a long history of handling seismic catastrophes.
Lesson to be learned on this is, it is always pays to be ready.
Archive for February, 2010
Phivolcs Cancels Tsunami Alert
by admin, on Sun, Feb 28 2010 | No CommentsRoxanne Guinoo is Pregnant
by admin, on Sun, Feb 28 2010 | 1 Comment
Young star Roxanne Guinoo admitted last Sunday on The Buzz that she is 3-months pregnant. According to the 23-year old Star Circle Runner Up, though not planned, she and her non-celebrity fiancé, named Angelo, consider their first baby as a “big blessing.”
Roxanne broke her silence amid the pregnancy rumors. The rumors have surfaced after television host Boy Abunda announced the actress’ engagement on television.
The 23-year-old actress also clarified that she and her 20-year-old Chinese-Filipino fiancé they are tying the knot early next year not only because of the baby, but primarily because it is their plan to get married.
“Hindi ko na po ine-expect na magpro-propose pa siya… Sinurprise niya ako. Naramdaman ko na napaka-importante ko sa buhay niya, na hindi niya ito gagawin dahil kailangan, dahil may bata. Gagawin namin pareho ito dahil gusto namin,” she said.
After Angelo’s proposal, she said she went straight home to Cavite to break the news to her family. She said her family was shocked, and her mom, in particular, broke into tears.
She said she is thankful that the baby came to their lives as she vowed to be a good mother.
She is also not leaving show business although she is starting her own family, she promised.
Photo Credit: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
Philippines on Tsunami Alert Level 2
by admin, on Sat, Feb 27 2010 | No Comments
An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 hit Chile yesterday at 3:34 am (0634 GMT) in response to the possible occurrence of Tsunami the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the country’s tsunami alert to Level 2 on Sunday, but government officials assured that there was no need to panic.
“PHIVOLCS Tsunami Alert Level is now 2. The concerned public is advised to be on alert for unusual waves,” Phivolcs said on its website.
Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum told the press that the tsunami is expected to arrival from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday but the incidence of an unusual wave could last even longer. The waves were not expected to be higher than one meter, and no forced evacuation was in place, the Phivolcs director said.
He said people living in coastal areas in the following provinces fronting the Pacific Ocean should seek higher ground: Batanes Group of Islands, Cagayan, northernmost provinces of Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Quezon, Aurora, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur.
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Strong Earthquake Shakes Chile
by admin, on Sat, Feb 27 2010 | No Comments
An 8.8 magnitude earthquake shakes Chile yesterday. It is one of the strongest earthquakes on record killed at least 300 (body count is still rising as of report time) people in Chile. The quake also sent giant waves roaring across the Pacific Ocean that forced Japan, Hawaii, Philippines and other countries on the Pacific on tsunami alert almost a day later.
In an address to the nation, President Michelle Bachelet said two million Chileans had been affected but, after touring the worst-hit areas by plane, she found it hard to spell out the magnitude of the disaster.
Highways in the South American nation were sliced to pieces, bridges imploded and buildings collapsed as the 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck overnight some 325 kilometers (200 miles) southwest of the capital Santiago.
“The power of nature has again struck our country,” Bachelet said, declaring six of Chile’s 15 regions “catastrophe zones” in the aftermath of the 8.8-magnitude quake.
“This is a catastrophe of immense proportions, so it will be very difficult to give precise figures,” Interior Minister Edmundo Perez Yoma said. Officials later said at least 300 people had been killed.
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2 Earthquakes hit Mindanao
by admin, on Fri, Feb 26 2010 | 1 CommentThe Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that 2 cities in southern part of the Philippines were hit by2 earthquakes at pre-dawn of February 27 (Philippine time).
The Phivolcs said the an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 was felt in 76 kilometers southeast of General Santos City in South Cotabato province at 12:18 a.m.
Philvolcs said that the quake was shallow in depth and was tectonic in origin.
It was felt at Intensity 4 in General Santos City. The Phivolcs said aftershocks may happen.
Another shallow quake with a magnitude of 3.3 also struck 30 kilometers northeast off Butuan City in Agusan del Norte province at 3:35 a.m. The quake was felt at Intensity 3 in Butauan City and Cabadbaran, also in the same province.
According to report, there is no damage on both human and properties on the said quakes.
