The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Friday issued a tsunami warning in Davao Oriental, Surigao del Sur, and Surigao Norte after a magnitude-6.9 earthquake.
‘Based on the local tsunami scenario database, it is expected to experience wave heights of more than one meter above the normal tides and may be higher on enclosed bays and strait,’ Phivolcs said in an advisory.
‘Destructive tsunami is expected with life-threatening wave heights,’ it added.
The first tsunami waves are expected to arrive between 7:12 p.m. and 9:12 p.m. with the waves expected to continue ‘for hours.’ It then told people in the coastal areas of Davao Oriental, Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte to immediately evacuate to higher grounds or move further inland.
‘Owners of boats in harbors, estuaries or shallow coastal waters of the above-mentioned provinces should secure their boats and move away from the waterfront. Boats already at sea during this period should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised,’ Phivolcs said. /mr