The 8.7 magnitude quake that jolted the east coast of Kamchatka in Russia on Wednesday morning, July 30, has prompted the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to issue a preemptive evacuation order in coastal areas that may be hit by tsunami.

In a memorandum issued to concerned local government units, the DILG said local officials must always be on the lookout for unusual waves to protect communities located near the shoreline in vulnerable coastal provinces facing the Pacific Ocean.

Citing the information from Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the DILG said the revised magnitude calculations and tsunami wave models in the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, coastal areas in the Philippines fronting the Pacific Ocean are expected to experience tsunami wave height of less than one meter.

The first tsunami waves, the memorandum said, are expected to arrive between 1:20 p.m. to 2:40 p.m.

“It may not be the largest and these waves may continue for hours,” the memo read.

The affected LGUs are:

• Luzon: Batanes Group of Islands, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes

• Visayas: Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte

• Mindanao: Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro

In its advisory, the DILG urged the concerned LGUs to also undertake the following critical preparedness measures:

* establish evacuation routes, directional signs, and safe zones for at-risk communities

* activate their respective Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) and Incident Management Teams (IMTs)

* strictly implement actions based on Operation Listo and Listong Pamayanan Tsunami Toolkit

* coordinate closely with regional and provincial DRRMCs, DOST-PHIVOLCS and other relevant agencies

“The DILG also advised residents to remain vigilant and stay away from beaches and coastal waters until the official cancellation of the tsunami advisory by the Department of Science and Technology -Phivolcs,” the memorandum read.

“People residing very near the shoreline are also strongly advised to move further inland as a precautionary measure. Boat owners are also told to secure their vessels and stay in deep water if already offshore,” it added.