PHIVOLCS lifts tsunami advisory after Russia quake

July 31 ------ The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Wednesday afternoon lifted the tsunami advisory it earlier issued after a powerful earthquake struck Russia’s eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.

Based on available data, PHIVOLCS said that as of 4:40 p.m. “no significant sea level disturbances nor destructive tsunami waves have been recorded since the 7:25 a.m. earthquake up until this cancellation.'' “With this, any effects due to minor sea level disturbances have largely passed, and therefore, DOST-PHIVOLCS has now cancelled the recommendations issued for this event,” it added.

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 might arrive between 1:20 p.m. and 2:40 p.m., July 30.

PHIVOLCS earlier 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, while the Philippine Ports Authority halted port operations in the affected areas due to the tsunami advisory.

Source: gmanetwork.com