PHIVOLCS: Only 2 to 15 minutes to evacuate if magnitude 8.7 quake hits PH Trench

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) warned that residents of coastal communities in the country’s eastern side only have a few minutes to evacuate if a magnitude 8.7 earthquake hits the Philippine Trench and triggers a tsunami. 

According to Chino Gaston’s report in “24 Oras” on Wednesday, the state seismic bureau said that those in the coastal areas in the eastern portion of the country facing the Pacific Ocean would only have two to 15 minutes to flee before a tsunami hits. 

The Philippine Trench is located in the eastern seaboard of the Visayas and Mindanao. 

“In the Philippines po kasi, kapag nandito lang nangyari sa bakuran natin or within the Philippines, it only takes two minutes. Maswerte na yung mga bayan na may 15 minutes,” said Angelito lanuza, head of PHIVOLCS’ Seismic and Tsunami Network Operations. 

(Here in the Philippines, if it happens right in our own backyard or within the country, it only takes two minutes to evacuate. Towns that have 15 minutes are considered lucky.) 

“As early as mga 10 years ago pa, we encouraged the communities, the (local government units) to really develop their tsunami evacuation plans,” he added. 

(As early as 10 years ago, we encouraged the communities and the LGUs to really develop their tsunami evacuation plans.) 

A magnitude 8.8 earthquake earlier struck Russia’s eastern Kamchatka Peninsula. It caused a tsunami as the earthquake’s epicenter was underneath the sea. 

Hence, several countries and territories, particularly those in the Pacific Ocean, issued tsunami warnings. Among them are China, Hawaii, the Solomon Islands, Japan, Ecuador, Chile, and the Philippines. 

According to PHIVOLCS' tsunami warning, up to one meter of tsunami waves could strike coastal areas facing the Pacific Ocean. 

This caused the Philippine Coast Guard to be on alert for possible emergencies. 

“We also informed yung ating mga mangingisda kung pwedeng huwag munang pumalaot,” said PCG spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab. 

(We informed our fishermen to temporarily halt their fishing activities.) 

Following the tsunami warning, several residents in the eastern portion of the country were told to evacuate as a precaution. 

PHIVOLCS eventually lifted the tsunami warning at 5 p.m. Wednesday due to the absence of sea level disturbances. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News

Source: www.gmanetwork.com