By Lilian Mellejor/PNA
DAVAO CITY — The Operation Center in Davao Oriental province reported no damages after the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck 164 kilometers southeast of Governor Generoso town on Saturday at around 11:39 a.m.
Operation Manager and Assistant Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Francis Jason Bendulo, however, said the operation center continues to monitor the situation in the coastal areas in all municipalities.
Residents in coastal areas in Davao region have been asked to brace for possible tsunami after the 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Davao areas and other provinces in eastern Mindanao on Saturday.
The Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) released a tsunami advisory asking residents, especially in the coastal areas, to stay away from the beach and not go to the coast between 12 noon and 2 p.m. and until the threat has passed.
Phivolcs later canceled the tsunami alert even as it said that minor sea level disturbances such as strong currents and rapid rise and fall of seawaters are expected.
Among the provinces that experienced the tremor were Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao City, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.
Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang called on residents to stay calm and take precautions as disaster teams continue to assess the areas.
Dayanghirang has ordered the key departments to closely coordinate with all mayors the Tsunami Information No. 1 issued by Phivolcs.
Provincial Information Officer Karen Deloso said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Managment Council (PDRRMC) advised residents in the coastal areas and near shorelines to move farther inland.
Deloso said a team from the PDDRMC continue disseminating information in the coastal barangays of Mati City.
Residents have been requested to observe the abnormal movement of water and stay alert in case of evacuations.
Deloso said PDRRMC’s counterpart in the municipalities are also doing their own information dissemination.
Among the coastal towns adjacent to Governor Generoso are Mati City and San Isidro town.
Deloso said people were also discouraged from spreading false information that may cause people to panic.
In Davao City, the City Disaster Risk Reducation and Management Council (CDRRMC) is also on alert.
