By Gabriela Baron
There is no tsunami threat following the 7.3-magnitude earthquake that rattled Abra Wednesday morning, July 27, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
“No destructive tsunami threat exists based on available data. This is for information purposes only and there is no tsunami threat to the Philippines from this earthquake,” Phivolcs said in an advisory.
“However earthquakes of this size may generate unusual sea level disturbances that may be observed along coasts near [the] earthquake epicenter of Abra province,” the agency added.
Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum Jr. clarified in a media briefing that the “reported unusual waves in the coastal areas of La Union and Ilocos” were not considered a tsunami.
“What happened was there was shaking of the island, and the coastal water was shaken, so there was minor seawater oscillation,” he said.
A 7.0-magnitude tremor rocked Abra Wednesday morning, triggering landslides and damaged structures in parts of Northern Luzon.
The major tectonic quake struck Tayum, Abra at 8:43 a.m.
Solidum warned of possible aftershocks. –ag
