The Philippines warned of “high tsunami waves” and called for the evacuation of coastal areas in northern Luzon on Wednesday after a 7.2-magnitude quake in neighboring Taiwan.
Residents in coastal areas of Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Isabela were “strongly advised to immediately evacuate to higher grounds or move farther inland,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in an updated advisory.
These areas “are expected to experience high tsunami waves” based on tsunami wave models, Phivolcs added.
The first tsunami waves were expected to hit between 8:33 and 10:33 a.m., which “may not be the largest and these waves may continue for hours.”
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said preemptive evacuation was underway in Pagudpud and Currimao towns in Ilocos Norte.
The NDRRMC added that the Cagayan Valley disaster council directed all local disaster offices to evacuate residents from coastal areas.
Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol told TeleRadyo Serbisyo that as of 9:08 a.m., the projected height of the tsunami waves were reduced to less than 30 centimeters from an initial 3 meters.
“Owners of boats in harbors, estuaries or shallow coastal water of the above-mentioned provinces should secure their boats and move away from the waterfront,” the state seismology agency said.
“Boats already at sea during this period should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised.”
English 