One-Meter Tsunami Waves May Hit in Next 3 Hours

Report by Katherine Evangelista, Karen Boncocan of INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 5) Alert level 2 has been raised in the 19 provinces that could be hit by at most one-meter tsunami waves between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. and residents in these areas have been advised to go farther inland and prepare for possible evacuation, disaster officials said Friday, after an 8.9 magnitude quake struck Japan earlier in the day.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) identified these provinces fronting the Pacific Ocean as:

• 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

Tsunami Alert Level 2 Map

Based on tsunami wave models and early tide gauge records of the tsunami in the Pacific, coastal areas in Philippine provinces fronting the Pacific Ocean are expected to experience wave heights of at most one meter,” said Phivolcs chief Renato Solidum.

One meter is a person’s shoulder-level, Solidum said when asked how high the waves would be. Solidum said the first tsunami wave would arrive between “5 p.m. and 7 p.m.” He said although the waves may not be the largest, these may continue “for hours.”

Solidum also warned owners of boats in harbors in the affected provinces to secure them and move away from the water front. “Boats already at sea during this period should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised,” he added. With a report from Kristine Alave, Philippine Daily Inquirer, AP, AFP

Tsunami Slams Northeast Japan

Prior to this Japan experienced a 8.9 Magnitude Earthquake and a powerful tsunami spawned by the largest earthquake in Japan’s recorded history slammed the eastern coast Friday, sweeping away boats, cars, homes and people as widespread fires burned out of control. Authorities said at least 32 people were killed.

The magnitude 8.9 offshore quake was followed by at least 19 aftershocks, most of them of more than magnitude 6.0. Dozens of cities and villages along a 1,300-mile (2,100-kilometer) stretch of coastline were shaken by violent tremors that reached as far away as Tokyo, hundreds of miles (kilometers) from the epicenter.

Related Videos on Japan’s 8.9 Magnitude Earthquake and Tsunami click this.

Japanese Earthquake 8.9 Magnitude + Tsunami TV Coverage Full Earthquake Video [March 11. 2011]

 Tsunami Slams Northeast Japan

As I stated on my previous blog entry entitled Fire Prevention Month below are the following Emergency Hotline Numbers that you can call for disaster emergency situations in the Philippines, especially urgent rescue and relief needs.

National Disaster Coordinating Committee (NDCC)
911-1406
911-1873
911-1906
911-5061
912-0984
912-2665
912-3046
912-5296
912-5668

Help hotlines:
734-2118
734-2120

Bureau of Fire Protection, National Capital Region
729-5166
410-6254
413-8859
407-1230

Bureau of Fire Protection, Region III (Central Luzon)
Hotline (045) 9634376

Philippine Coast Guard
527-6136

Red Cross
143
911-1876
527-0000

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
136
896-6000

Taguig emergency hotline
1623

Meralco
16220
0917-5592824
0920-9292824

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. emergency hotlines
for dumptrucks going to flooded areas for rescue of stranded people:
0917 4226800
0917 2414864
0927 6751981

Sen. Dick Gordon (Philippine National Red Cross)
Please send address of stranded friends/family to
09178997898
0938444BOYS