A 7.4 magnitude earthquake jolted the Mindanao region in Philippines on Friday morning (local time). Authorities have since sounded the alarm on tsunami warnings after that.
Shortly after that, tsunami warning for Indonesia’s northern Sulawesi and Papua regions were also issued. These locations are over 300 km away from the epicentre of the Philippines earthquake.
BBC subsequently reported that Pacific Tsunami Warning Center’s alert indicated that tsunami waves could go up to 3 metre (10 feet) above normal tide levels along some coasts. Meanwhile, some coasts of Indonesia and Palau could see waves reaching up to a metre above normal levels.
Tsunami waves after Philippines earthquake
According to Philippine authorities, the first tsunami waves are expected to hit before 11:43 local time. As they may stretch out “for hours,” the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has urged resident in coastal areas to immediately evacuate. “Boats already at sea during this period should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised,” its statement added.
Despite the ongoing and impending streak of natural disasters, authorities in Indonesia have urged people to “remain calm and avoid spreading or believing unverified information.” They’ve also instructed citizens to stay away from building that may have been damaged due to the earthquake.
“Inspect and ensure that your home is structurally sound and free from earthquake-induced damage before re-entering,” the country’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency shared via in a statement.
Philippines earthquake damage reports
Amid the frenzy surrounding the earthquake, the the southern Philippine province of Davao Oriental’s Governor Edwin Jubahib told local broadcaster DZMM some buildings in the area :were reported to have been damaged.”
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has since also pushed for evacuations. “We are now assessing the situation on the ground and ensuring that everyone is safe. I have directed the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Office of Civil Defense, the Armed Forces, the Philippine Coast Guard, and all concerned agencies to immediately carry out evacuations in coastal areas, activate emergency communication lines, and coordinate closely with local governments,” he said on Facebook.
“Search, rescue, and relief operations are already being prepared and will be deployed as soon as it is safe to do so. The Department of Social Welfare and Development is pre-positioning food and non-food items, while the Department of Health is ready to provide emergency medical assistance.”
This is a breaking story. More Information will be added soon…