Earthquake in Samar, Philippines (August 31, 2012); Tsunami alert issued!

Advertisements
Earthquake hits Samar and Cebu, Philippines!

A tsunami alert has been issued following the reported 7.6-magnitude earthquake in Sulangan, Eastern Samar, Philippines at 8:47PM today, August 31, 2012.

According to the tsunami bulletin issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in the US, a tsunami warning is in effect for the Philippines and other countries such as Indonesia and Palau.

At 9:01 PM, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), who recorded the quake as having 7.7 magnitude, has also issued its own tsunami bulletin indicating a Tsunami Alert Level 3 or an "immediate evacuation" of residents in Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) initially measured the quake at 7.9-magnitude, 94 km East of Sulangan, Eastern, Samar, Philippines and 106 km East-Southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Philippines.

The said quake was also strongly felt in Cebu as well as in Davao, Surigao, Davao, Bacolod and Tacloban.

More aftershock earthquakes have been recorded by USGS: 5.5-magnitude at 9:14 PM, 5.4-magnitude at 9:27 PM, another 5.4 quake at 9:40 PM and a 5.0-magnitude quake at around 11PM.

Let's pray for everyone's safety, especially those in Eastern Samar and other affected areas!

LATEST UPDATE: At 10:54 PM, the tsunami warning issued by PTWC has already been lifted. On its bulletin containing the tsunami warning cancellation, PTWC said:

"The tsunami warning and/or watch issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is now cancelled for Indonesia / Philippines / Belau."

PHIVOLCS meanwhile has cancelled its tsunami alert at 12:10 AM on September 1.

"PHIVOLCS is cancelling all tsunami alerts associated with the magnitude 7.7
earthquake that occurred at 8:47 PM (Philippine Standard Time) on August 31, 2012.
The local government of affected coastal provinces may now advise and assist those
who evacuated to safely return to their communities.

Initial reports of sea level disturbance received by PHIVOLCS indicate that the
tsunami generated by this earthquake did not reach life-threatening heights. The
National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) reported the
tsunami in Surigao City with initial heights of 16 centimeters and 19 centimeters at
10:48 PM. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) also reported a three
centimeter tsunami recorded by the tide gauges in Legaspi City at 9:43 PM and
Davao City at 9:50 PM. Waves not higher than half meter were also reportedly
observed in Pilar, Surigao del Norte in Siargao Island about 10 minutes after the
earthquake. No bigger tsunami associated with this earthquake is expected to follow
after this cancellation. All tsunami alerts are now lifted.

This will be the last bulletin issued for this event." - PHIVOLCS-DOST



About M.I.

Mykiru is an entertainment blogger, having been named as one of the Top 10 Pinoy Showbiz Resources in the Philippines. For a decade now, Mykiru.ph has been delivering the latest, the hottest and most trending issues in the country.
Comments

0 Comment(s):

Post a Comment