Tsunami triggers evacuation in Phl

MANILA, Philippines  — Evacuation in the northern and eastern seaboards continues as minor waves hit the country in the wake of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Japan this afternoon.

President Benigno Aquino III called on the residents in the likely affected areas to heed the warnings of government agencies to avoid any casualty.

“Susundin po sana natin ang kanilang mga babala upang maisawan ang sakuna,” he said.

“Gawin natin na organisado ang ating mga kilos, at makipag-ugnayan po tayo sa ating mga awtoridad. Paghandaan na po natin ang anumang pinsala na maaaring idulot ng isang tsunami sa ating mga komunidad,” he added.

This after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) maintained its alert level 2 in the following areas:

Batanes Group of Island, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Quezon, Isabela, Aurora, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Leyte, Leyte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council implemented mandatory evacuations in the area.

Officials in the affected provinces started the evacuation of residents in the coastal areas as early as 4:00 p.m.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development is also boosting its efforts of mobilizing food supplies for possible relief efforts.

The Phivolcs estimated the first tsunami waves to reach the Philippine coasts between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. today. As of this posting, no significant tsunami waves reach the country yet.

 “People whose houses are very near coastal areas facing the Pacific Ocean are strongly advised to go farther inland,” the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in a bulletin.

The government gave no estimates of how many of the national population of 94 million were covered by the upgraded tsunami warning. The bulletin included 19 of the country’s 79 provinces.

Disaster management officials in Albay province southeast of Manila say they have ordered residents to move to designated evacuation sites that are at least 15 feet (5 meters) above sea level.

Filipinos living and working in Japan, particularly in Tokyo and Osaka, have been evacuated safely after the magnitude 8.9 quake that hit Japan this afternoon, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

In a TV interview, DFA Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said Philippine embassies in Tokyo and Osaka have already been evacuated.

He said there are 1,039 Filipinos in Miyagi Prefecture near the epicenter of the devastating earthquake.

The Cebu City government alerted its coastal barangays of possible large waves as an aftermath of the powerful quake that hit northern Japan.

Families living along the coast of barangays Sawang Calero, Pasil and Ermita were asked to spend the night in the sports complex to make sure they will be safe in case anything happens.

Acting mayor Joy Augutus Young said that Cebu though is protected by other islands, they want to be ready for any eventualities.

The local disaster risk reduction and management council was activated and on stand-by in case neighboring provinces like Samar would need help.

Representative Tomas Osmeña said that he will organize a team of doctors and nurses that they might send to Japan to help in the rescue operation. — Philstar.com, AP and Jessica Ann R. Pareja /LPM