AMID fears of another tsunami hitting Southeast Asia after Indonesia’s killer tsunami last week, Philippine authorities on Saturday dispelled the possibility of one following a magnitude 7.2 earthquake off Mindanao.
Renato U. Solidum, Jr. Science Undersecretary and Officer-In-Charge of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Phivolcs said they expect no serious damage to property because of the distance to land; and, because there was no report of a significant change to water level, they no longer expect a tsunami.
As of 3 pm, Phivolcs issued its final tsunami bulletin definitely cancelling earlier recommendations in earlier advisories to shun coastal areras.
“Minor waves associated” with the temblor, said Phivolcs in its 3pm bulletin, “were recorded by our sea level monitoring station in Mati, Davao Oriental with a maximum height of 0.08 meter. The last recorded wave occurred at 01:10 PM (PST) for this station. Records show that wave heights have returned to the normal tide level. With this, any effects due to minor sea level disturbances have largely passed and therefore DOST-Phivolcs has now cancelled recommendations prescribed in our Tsunami Advisory issued for this event.”
Earlier, Solidum had said that as a precaution, they advise people to stay away from coastal areas.
“Our advice is for people in the area to stay away from beaches or coastal areas particularly those in Davao Oriental and nearby provinces,” he said.
A team from Phivocs is monitoring the situation, he added.
No serious damage to property was reported at press time, authorities said.
The earthquake struck about 170 km southeast off the coast of the Municipality of Generoso in Davao Oriental at exactly 11:39 a.m. The depth is about 54 kilometers, according to the Phivocs earthquake bulletin.
A tsunami alert issued by Phivocs said based on data from sea-level monitoring stations fronting the Pacific Ocean, there are no observed significant changes in sea level heights.
“If the situation continues for the next hour, it is assumed that any minor sea level changes associated with this event has already passed,” it said.
Phivolcs advised people to stay away from the beach and avoid going to the coast fronting the Philippine Sea in a number of provinces between 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 PM and until the minor sea level disturbance has passed.
These include Surigao Del Norte, Surigao Del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao Del Norte, Davao Occidental, Davao City, Davao Del Sur, Sarangani and South Cotabato.
People whose houses are located very near the shoreline of these provinces were also advised to move farther inland while owners of boats in harbors, estuaries or shallow coastal water were also advised to secure or move their boats away from the waterfront.
A strong earthquake in the ocean can trigger a tsunami that can wipe out coastal barangays, resulting in tremendous loss of lives and damage to property.