Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan has instructed all PCG districts to remain on high alert and closely coordinate with local government units (LGUs) along the country’s coastlines.
His directive follows the Office of Civil Defense’s (OCD) advisory issued on Wednesday, July 30, urging LGUs in 22 coastal provinces to initiate pre-emptive evacuations.
The precautionary measures come in response to a tsunami alert triggered by a powerful magnitude 8.7 earthquake that struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia.
In an advisory, the OCD advised pre-emptive evacuation in Batanes, 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, and Davao de Oro.
“In response to this advisory, all PCG Districts were advised to be on alert status, conduct information dissemination and coordinate with local government units, particularly in coastal areas, to ensure alertness and take precautionary measure,” PCG spokesperson Capt. Noeimie Cayabyab said.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued the tsunami alert at 9:22 a.m. after the powerful quake struck Russia.
Coastal areas in the Philippines fronting the Pacific Ocean were expected to experience tsunami wave height of less than one meter, according to Phivolcs.
It said the first tsunami waves were expected to arrive between 1:20 p.m. to 2:40 p.m., and may continue for hours. (Martin Sadongdong)
