Phivolcs raise Tsunami Alert

Japan Tsunami more photo here

Phivolcs raise tsunami alert, waves expected Friday afternoon
By Thea Alberto – March 11th, 2011

Yahoo! Southeast Asia

(UPDATE 2) The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has raised the Tsunami alert to Level 2 , hours after an 8.8-magnitude quake hit Northern Japan.

In its Twitter account, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the alert level has been raised to level 2, and has advised the public to be “on alert for unusual waves.”

“The concerned public is advised to BE ON ALERT FOR UNUSUAL WAVES. Based on tsunami wave models and early tide gauge records of the tsunami in the Pacific, coastal areas in the Philippine provinces fronting the Pacific Ocean are expected to experience wave heights of at most one meter,” said NDRMMC in a statement.

From Singapore, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III issued a statement appealing for calm but also called on Filipinos to heed the warnings issued by government agencies.

“Paghandaan po natin ang anumang pinsala na maidudulot ng tsunami sa ating mga komuninad. Harinawa po ay maiwasan natin ang pinsala,” Aquino told a press conference aired live by state-run Radyo ng Bayan.

“Hiling natin ang hinahon sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.

NDRMMC said the first tsunami waves are expected to arrive between 5:00PM to 7:00PM Friday. The agency also warned that the “waves may continue for hours.”

“People are advised to stay away from the shoreline during this period. People should not go to the coast to watch the tsunami. People whose houses are very near coastal areas facing the Pacific Ocean are strongly advised to go farther inland,” it added.

Earlier, these provinces were placed under alert following the strong earthquake in Northern Japan.

In a bulletin issued, these provinces are under watch:

• Batanes Group of Islands

• Cagayan

• Ilocos Norte

• Isabela

• Quezon

• Aurora

• Camarines Norte

• Camarines Sur

• Albay

• Catanduanes

• Sorsogon

• Northern Samar

• Eastern Samar

• Leyte

• Southern Leyte

• Surigao del Norte

• Surigao del Sur

• Davao Oriental

• Davao del Sur

Japan on Friday afternoon registered an 8.8 magnitude earthquake, which NDRRMC said “has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours.”

“The pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii will monitor sea level gauges nearest the region and report if any tsunami wave activity is observed,” NDRRMC said.

In an Associated Press report, it said that in Japan’s capital, “large buildings shook violently and workers poured into the street for safety.”

Meanwhile, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a separate statement that the Philippine Coast Guard has issued a Notice for Mariners, alerting ships and small sea craft about the tsunami alert.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is also closely monitoring the situation in Japan and to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos there. Lacierda said people can call this DFA hotline for Japan-related concerns: (632) 834-4646.

source:http://ph.yfittopostblog.com/2011/03/11/several-ph-provinces-under-tsunami-alert-after-japan-quake/