OCD urges immediate pre-emptive evacuation in 22 provinces as tsunami alert is raised over Russia quake
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) called on local government units (LGUs) on Wednesday, July 30, to conduct pre-emptive evacuation in areas near the coastline of 22 provinces after a tsunami alert was issued following a powerful magnitude 8.7 earthquake off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia.
In an advisory, the OCD advised pre-emptive evacuation in Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur, and Davao de Oro.
This was in response to the tsunami alert issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) at 9:22 a.m. after the powerful quake struck Russia.
Coastal areas in the Philippines fronting the Pacific Ocean were expected to experience tsunami wave height of less than one meter, according to Phivolcs.
It said the first tsunami waves were expected to arrive between 1:20 p.m. to 2:40 p.m., and may continue for hours.
Relatedly, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan directed all coast guard districts to be on alert and coordinate with LGUs for planned evacuation of residents near the country's coastlines in response to the government's advisory.
"In response to this advisory, all PCG Districts were advised to be on alert status, conduct information dissemination and coordinate with local government units, particularly in coastal areas, to ensure alertness and take precautionary measure," PCG spokesperson Capt. Noeimie Cayabyab said.