Palace urges Visayans to cooperate with gov’t agencies in tsunami watch

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday urged people affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the Negros island to remain calm and cooperate with government agencies in watching out for a tsunami.

President Benigno Aquino III has tasked the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to monitor the affected areas for seismic activity, according to his spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.

“While there is no forced evacuation being ordered, we implore the people in affected areas to remain vigilant and take the necessary precautions. Let us cooperate with government agencies, allow them to do their work, and remain calm and watchful,” Lacierda said.

He said that Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas has instructed Coast Guard chief Edmund Tan to prevent fishermen from going out to sea for the duration of the Level 2 tsunami alert.

Lacierda said Philippine National Police Director General Nicanor Bartolome has ordered its regional offices in Western and Central Visayas to keep people away from the shoreline and the ensure peace and order there.

In initial reports from Phivolcs and USGS, the earthquake’s strength was placed at magnitude 6.8.