Tsunami waves detected in 6 areas after Sarangani quake

MANILA, Philippines — Tsunami waves were detected in six areas within an hour after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off Sarangani on Monday morning, June 8, Phivolcs said.

Based on Phivolcs data as of 11 a.m., the first tsunami waves were recorded in the following areas:

• Maasim, Sarangani: 7:42 a.m.
• Kiamba, Sarangani: 7:44 a.m.
• Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat: 7:59 a.m.
• Mati City, Davao Oriental: 8:19 a.m.
• Zamboanga City: 8:32 a.m.
• Tandag City, Surigao del Sur: 8:45 a.m.

Phivolcs said tsunami activity was ongoing and continued to be recorded at these stations, according to a BusinessWorld report.

Small tsunami waves were also detected in at least nine areas in Indonesia, according to its Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency. Indonesia had lifted its tsunami warning as of 1 p.m.

Coastal evacuations urged

Phivolcs earlier issued a tsunami warning for nine coastal areas in Mindanao: Sarangani, Davao Occidental, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato.

The agency said the first tsunami waves could arrive between 7:37 a.m. and 9:37 a.m. and may continue for hours.

Phivolcs strongly advised residents in coastal areas to evacuate immediately.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also appealed to residents to follow the tsunami warning.

“To our kababayans in the affected provinces, please heed the tsunami warning. Move to higher ground now. Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind,” Marcos said.

Suspended operations

The Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao suspended all watercraft operations in Davao Occidental following the tsunami advisory.

The suspension covers fishing boats, passenger vessels and commercial watercraft. Authorities said coastal monitoring and assessment operations were continuing.

The Philippine Coast Guard also deployed personnel to assist in the evacuation of residents in coastal areas covered by the Phivolcs advisory.

“The PCG also advised fishermen and coastal residents to strictly comply with the tsunami warning. Owners of vessels docked in harbors and shallow coastal waters were urged to secure their boats and move away from waterfront areas, while vessels already at sea were advised to remain in deep waters until further notice,” Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemi Cayabyab said.

In a video statement, Civil Defense Undersecretary Harold Cabreros identified Regions 9, 11, 12 and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as the areas most affected by the earthquake. He said evacuation operations were ongoing in affected coastal areas.

Cabreros said Marcos had directed members of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and other agencies to go to affected areas to assess the situation.

As of posting time, authorities have yet to release an official verified report on deaths, injuries and damage caused by the earthquake.