DILG urges evacuation amid tsunami threat after Russia quake

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged local chief executives (LCE) to preemptively evacuate people from the coastlines in the aftermath of the magnitude 8.7 earthquake in Russia that has triggered a tsunami alert in the Pacific Rim on Wednesday, July 30.

The Philippine Institute Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the first tsunami waves, with a height of less than one meter, may hit between 1:20 p.m. to 2:40 p.m.

It advised the public to stay away from the beach and to not go to the coasts of the following provinces:

+ Batanes Group of Islands

+ Cagayan

+ Isabela

+ Aurora

+ Quezon

+ Camarines Norte

+ Camarines Sur

+ Albay

+ Sorsogon

+ Catanduanes

+ Northern Samar

+ Eastern Samar

+ Leyte

+ Southern Leyte

+ Dinagat Islands

+ Surigao del Norte

+ Surigao del Sur

+ Davao del Norte

+ Davao Oriental

+ Davao Occidental

+ Davao del Sur

+ Davao de Oro

“It may not be the largest and these waves may continue for hours,” Phivolcs said in a statement.

“People whose houses are located very near the shoreline of these provinces are advised to MOVE FARTHER INLAND,” it added.

Boat owners were told to secure their boats and move away from the waterfront.

Aside from evacuation, the DILG further asked LCEs to “establish and strictly implement the critical preparedness measures.”

The quake that hit Kamchatka Peninsula is considered the “strongest in decades.”

Several people were reported hurt.

Japan and Hawaii have also ordered evacuations due to tsunami warnings.