By Brian Campued
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Friday night warned of possible tsunami following another strong earthquake, which jolted the waters off Manay, Davao Oriental.
According to a tsunami warning issued by the Phivolcs at 7:19 p.m., the following provinces are expected to experience wave heights of more than 1 meter above the normal tides and may be higher on enclosed bays and straits:
- Surigao del Sur
- Davao Oriental
- Surigao del Norte
“Destructive tsunami is expected with life threatening wave heights,” Phivolcs stated.
It added that the first tsunami waves would arrive between 7:12 p.m. to 9:12 p.m. and may continue for hours.
“The people in the coastal areas of the following provinces are strongly advised to immediately evacuate to higher grounds or move farther inland,” the agency said.
Mariners are also advised to secure their boats and move away from the waterfront, while those already at sea “should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised.”
In its earthquake information bulletin, Phivolcs said the magnitude 6.8 tectonic quake struck 43 km southeast of Manay, Davao Oriental at 7:12 p.m.
The offshore temblor had a depth of 37 km.
Damages and aftershocks are expected, according to Phivolcs.
The following intensities were reported in the following areas:
- Intensity VI – Manay, DAVAO ORIENTAL
- Intensity V – Baganga, Boston, Caraga, Cateel, and Tarragona, DAVAO ORIENTAL
- Intensity IV – Mawab, Monkayo, Nabunturan, and Pantukan, DAVAO DE ORO; CITY OF DAVAO; City of Mati, DAVAO ORIENTAL; City of Bislig, SURIGAO DEL SUR
- Intensity III – Abuyog, City of Baybay, Dagami, Dulag, Javier, Julita, Leyte, Macarthur, Mahaplag, Mayorga, Palo, Santa Fe, Tabontabon, Tanauan, and Tolosa, LEYTE; CITY OF TACLOBAN; Hinunangan, Pintuyan, San Francisco, San Juan, San Ricardo, Silago, and Sogod, SOUTHERN LEYTE; City of Digos and Magsaysay, DAVAO DEL SUR; City of Kidapawan, M’lang, Makilala, and President Roxas, COTABATO; Lambayong, SULTAN KUDARAT; Cagdianao, Libjo, San Jose, and Tubajon, DINAGAT ISLANDS
- Intensity II – City of Borongan, General Macarthur, and Hernani, EASTERN SAMAR; Palapag, NORTHERN SAMAR; City of Cagayan De Oro, CITY OF CAGAYAN DE ORO; Alamada, Antipas, Banisilan, Kabacan, Magpet, and Matalam, COTABATO; Columbio, Esperanza, Isulan, Kalamansig, Lebak, Lutayan, President Quirino, Senator Ninoy Aquino, and City of Tacurong, SULTAN KUDARAT
- Intensity I – Molave, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR; Carmen, and Pigkawayan, COTABATO
Earlier this morning, Manay, Davao Oriental was struck by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake.
According to Phivolcs, the two earthquakes may possibly be considered as a “doublet earthquake.”
“They are distinct or different earthquakes in almost the same area with two (or more) main shocks that have slight differences in magnitude,” it said.
“This happens when faults or trenches are causing the stress to trigger a sequence of events.”
-avds
