OCD: 709 families evacuated during Taiwan quake-triggered tsunami alert

MANILA, Philippines — At least 700 families were evacuated as a precaution following the powerful earthquake that hit waters near Taiwan, which prompted tsunami alerts.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Thursday that a total of 709 families were evacuated in the regions of Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley as the  Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the tsunami warning shortly after the major quake on Wednesday morning.

In Ilocos Norte’s Pancian and Pagudpud towns alone, 20 families were taken to a secure place, according to OCD, while 109 families, including 71 in Sanchez Mira and 38 in Ballesteros towns in Cagayan; and 580 families, including 551 in Divilacan, 18 in Maconacon, and 11 in Dinapigue in Isabela province were likewise brought to safer ground.

The evacuees returned to their homes after Phivolcs lifted the tsunami alerts a few hours later, as the state seismologist did not monitor any significant sea level tremors due to the 7.2-magnitude earthquake near Taiwan.

People evacuated from their homes sit outside the shelter after the main earthquake in Hualien City, eastern Taiwan, Thursday early morning, April 4, 2024. The strongest earthquake in a quarter-century has rocked Taiwan during the morning rush hour. (Photo by CHIANG YING-YING / Associated Press)

Meanwhile, Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) Chairman Silvestre Bello III said Thursday that three Filipinos were injured in the quake.

According to Bello, among the injured was a female overseas Filipino worker (OFW) named Sylvia, who sustained a swollen hand.

“Among our compatriots, there are three who are considered casualties, but they only have minor injuries,” he said in Filipino in an interview over Radyo 630.