Tsunami warning triggers panic

CEBU CITY ,Philippines  – Panic gripped this city at past noon yesterday.

People and vehicles crowded the streets, racing to reach higher ground as rumors of an incoming tsunami spread.

Cars were abandoned in the middle of roads; stores were left open and people headed to the mountains. Some found their way to the tops of high-rise buildings.

A 78-year-old named Anelita appeared to be short of breath as she sat near The Freeman offices, pleading that she be allowed to go up to the highest floor of the building, fearing that the tsunami was near.

Anelita said that she was selling fish in Pasil market when she heard people shouting that the water was rising.

She said that she saw the water rising, but not that much, but she still ran because people were already running away.

A young student had wounds on her feet because she ran barefoot since she said she could not run fast with her high-heeled shoes.

The tsunami report, which proved to be a false alarm, left many people flustered and worried.

Fake SMS messages also added to the panic, warning people that a tsunami was expected hours after the 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit Cebu and other parts of the Visayas yesterday morning.

Across the Tañon Strait in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, similar scenes of panic and exodus were reported in the local paper Metro Post, with people running away from the sea, traffic jams downtown and long lines at gas stations.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised level 2 tsunami alert but explained that there was no reason for people to panic and evacuate as only minor sea level changes were to be expected.

Phivolcs, however, reminded those living near coastal areas to be extra cautious.

Phivolcs lifted the level 2 tsunami alert two hours after raising it.

Students were immediately sent home after the earthquake, while government and private offices sent their employees home after lunch.

In the Colon area, where a lot of businesses and buildings are located, people went out of their offices after the earthquake as they braced for aftershocks.

A lot of people also headed to the nearby Basilica del Sto. Niño to pray for safety and protection.

Some were crying while talking to people next to them about how frightening the experience was.

Thousands of residents in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City also evacuated to higher ground upon hearing flase reports of a rise in sea water level.

Guadalupe barangay captain Michael Gacasan said it was hard to control the people who were panicking and running for their lives.

“Even most of our employees left the barangay hall and went upland. People were not even able to bring anything but themselves,” Gacasan explained.

Minutes after local officials confirmed the lifting of the tsunami alert, they started informing the people of the real situation.

Gacasan said they will not be surprised to receive reports of missing children since panic seemed to have overcome almost everyone.

Guadalupe is Cebu City’s biggest barangay in terms of population.

Some residents in Mambaling, Punta Princesa and other South District barangays also evacuated to higher ground out of fear of a possible tsunami.

Public transportation was also crippled for hours because public utility jeepney drivers chose to cut their route and went home.

Some drivers even left their vehicles in the middle of the road and joined the mass of people struggling to move away from the seaside.

In Cebu City Hall, the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council received reports of cracks in various buildings in the downtown area, uptown and mountain barangays.

The University of San Jose Recoletos main campus in the Carbon area reported large cracks visible in the upper floors of the school building after the quake.

Cracks were also reported in Apas Elementary School, Toong Elementary School and barangay hall, and Buhisan barangay hall.

The city hall was immediately vacated after the quake and employees were advised to come back after the Office of the Building Official (OBO) declares the building safe.

While OBO inspection was ongoing, the city government suspended work so employees could go home to their families.

Initial inspection conducted by the Building Maintenance Section found no damage in the executive and legislative buildings.

Mayor Michael Rama also ordered the Department of Engineering and Public Works and the Local School Board to inspect all school buildings, especially those in the mountain barangays that were earlier reported to be unsafe.

Rama warned that the earthquake could happen again, even in a stronger magnitude, so they should not take a chance.