Tsunami warning raised across east Philippines after magnitude-8.2 quake in Alaska
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has issued a tsunami warning for residents of coastal communities in the eastern side of the Philippines after a massive earthquake hit the state of Alaska in the United States around 2:15 PM (Philippine time). The United States Geological Service recorded the earthquake’s strength at magnitude 8.2, with a depth of 32.2 kilometers.
In an advisory posted on its website, PHIVOLCS noted that “an earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours.”
The agency specifically advised residents in the areas listed below to “wait and watch for further updates” for possible changes in the sea level of the Pacific Ocean, although it is not ordering evacuations for now:
LUZON:
Batanes Group of Islands
Cagayan
Ilocos Norte
Isabela
Quezon
Aurora
Camarines Norte
Camarines Sur
Albay
Catanduanes
Sorsogon
VISAYAS:
Northern Samar
Eastern Samar
Leyte
Southern Leyte
MINDANAO:
Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Sur
Davao del Norte
Davao del Sur
Davao Occidental
Davao Oriental
Davao de Oro
UPDATE, 4PM:
PHIVOLCS: “No destructive tsunami threat exists based on available data. This is for information purposes only and there is no tsunami threat to the Philippines from this earthquake.”
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