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.

(more…)

Share on Facebook