Tsunami alert up in parts of PH after magnitude 7.5 quake hit near Taiwan

Image from Phivolcs

MANILA, Philippines —  The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised a tsunami warning in some parts of the country following a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that struck near Taiwan on Wednesday morning.

The advisory said that the tremor struck at 7:58 a.m. northeast of Taiwan and had a depth of focus of 19 kilometers.

The state seismologists stressed that based on “tsunami wave models and early tide gauge records of the tsunami in the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, coastal areas in the Philippines fronting the Pacific Ocean are expected to experience high tsunami waves.”

READ: Magnitude 7.5 earthquake hits near Taiwan, reports Japan agency

“It is forecast that the first tsunami waves will arrive between 8:33 a.m. [and] 10:33 a.m., 03 Apr 2024 (PST). It may not be the largest and these waves may continue for hours,” Phivolcs added.

The state seismologist “strongly advised” residents living in the coastal areas of the following provinces to immediately evacuate to higher ground:

• Batanes Group of Islands
• Cagayan
• Ilocos Norte
• Isabela

“Owners of boats in harbors, estuaries or shallow coastal water 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,” it added.