Tsunami alert prompts evacuation of coastal residents in eastern Philippines

19 Philippine provinces are facing the threat of tsunami, in red below:


Thousands of people living on the east coast of the Philippines have started to leave their homes and proceed to evacuation centers as they brace for the arrival of a tsunami triggered by a massive earthquake that hit Japan on Friday. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Friday said one-meter high waves are expected to hit the Philippines between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Friday.

A total of 19 provinces lying on the eastern part of the country have been placed under Tsunami Alert Level 2, which requires a mandatory evacuation of residents living 10 to 40 meters from the shoreline, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.

According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the estimated arrival times of the tsunami's initial waves in the Philippines are as follows:

Palanan, Isabela - 5:55 p.m.
Legaspi, Albay - 6:26 p.m.
Davao - 6:53 p.m.

In its Tsunami Bulletin No. 3 issued at 3:30 p.m. Friday, the Center explained that "A tsunami is a series of waves and the first wave may not be the largest. Tsunami wave heights cannot be predicted and can vary significantly along a coast due to local effects. The time from one tsunami wave to the next can be five minutes to an hour, and the threat can continue for many hours as multiple waves arrive."

"When no major waves are observed for two hours after the estimated time of arrival or damaging waves have not occurred for at least two hours then local authorities can assume the threat is passed," the bulletin said. However, the Center warned that "danger to boats and coastal structures can continue for several hours due to rapid currents."

The tsunami is expected to reach the Philippines, particularly the Batanes Group of Islands, at around 5:00 p.m. A radio report said that the provincial government of Surigao del Sur in southern Philippines has already began preemptively evacuating around 15,000 residents from four coastal villages.

The report added that fleeing residents were sheltered inside gymnasiums, while others who refuse to leave their residences were advised to stay on the second floor of their homes. Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol Matugas said people have already been led out of their homes, even as disaster prevention personnel are on stand by for any eventuality.

"Naka-ready na kami lahat. Naka-alerto na po sa Siargao Islands facing the Pacific. They are now all evacuated because of the alert level 2," she said.

Over in Luzon, Quezon Gov. David Suarez also said residents from the provinces 14 coastal villages living in coastal areas have likewise started evacuating from their homes. Suarez said the level of the water off the province was noticeably lower than the usual as of this posting.

"Parang nag-low tide kaagad. Iyon lang ang napansin ng mga kababayan natin dito," Suarez told radio dzBB in a separate interview. He could estimate the number of people currently being evacuated but said: "Madami ito."

In Sorsogon, news of the tsunami caused panic among local fishermen who rushed to dock their boats and opted not to set out to sea today. According to a report on GMA News TV's On-Call, government workers in establishments near coastal areas in Bulan, Sorosogon were already asked to go home.

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