News Updates: 19 Provinces in the Philippines are now under Tsunami Alert Level 2

A photo taken in Japan during Tsunami strikes.

Several provinces in the Philippines are now under Tsunami Alert Level 1, following a strong earthquake in Northern Japan.

In a bulletin issued by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) these provinces are under watch and must prepare for a possible evacuation:

• Batanes Group of Islands

• Cagayan

• Ilocos Norte

• Isabela

• Quezon

• Aurora

• Camarines Norte

• Camarines Sur

• Albay

• Catanduanes

• Sorsogon

• Northern Samar

• Eastern Samar

• Leyte

• Southern Leyte

• Surigao del Norte

• Surigao del Sur

• Davao Oriental

• Davao del Sur

Japan on Friday afternoon registered an 8.8 magnitude earthquake, which NDRRMC said “has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours.”

“The pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii will monitor sea level gauges nearest the region and report if any tsunami wave activity is observed,” NDRRMC said.

As of this posting, the Tsunami Alert Level 1 does not require evacuation yet in places under watch.
“No evacuation order is in effect, but communities along the west coast of the country are advised to wait for further information and to prepare for possible evacuation,” said NDRRMC.