Following the Wednesday morning earthquake near Taiwan with a magnitude of 7.5, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has issued a tsunami warning for specific parts of the Philippines.
The notice states that the earthquake happened at 7:58 a.m. northeast of Taiwan, and 19 kilometers is the depth of focus.
According to state seismologists, large tsunami waves are expected in coastal areas of the Philippines facing the Pacific Ocean based on tsunami wave models and early tide gauge recordings from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
According to Phivolcs, “Initial tsunami waves are expected to reach between 08:33 AM to 10:33 AM, 03 Apr 2024 (PST). These waves may not be the largest, and their occurrence could persist for several hours.”
The following provinces’ coastal populations were strongly advised by the authorities to immediately evacuate to higher ground:
- Batanes Group of Islands
- Cagayan
- Ilocos Norte
- Isabela
Furthermore, Phivolcs recommended boat owners in the above named provinces’ harbors, estuaries, or shallow coastal waters to lock up their vessels and relocate them away from the waterfront. It was advised that boats that were already at sea during this time stay offshore in deep waters until further notice.
