Phivolcs cancels tsunami warning after 8.2-magnitude earthquake strikes Mexico

MANILA, Philippines – There’s no need to fear an impending tsunami, according to the latest advisory by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Fears of tsunamis gripped Philippine communities after an 8.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of Mexico on Friday afternoon, September 8.

“Based on all available data, there is no destructive tsunami threat to the Philippines associated with this event,” notes the Phivolcs’ second advisory issued at 3:29 p.m. Friday, or more than two and a half hours after the powerful earthquake rocked Chiapas, Mexico at 12:49 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time).

The quake is believed to be the strongest that ever hit Mexico in a century.

At 1:09 pm, Phivolcs, in its first advisory, alerted the Pacific-facing provinces of Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Quezon, Aurora, Camarines Norte and Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Eastern and Northern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte and del Sur, and Davao Oriental, Del Norte, Del Sur and Occidental, saying residents had “to wait and listen for updates” as the agency was monitoring sea-level changes along the Pacific.

Phivolcs said that “an earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours.”

Although no evacuation order was recommended by Phivolcs, its advisory had sparked fears among Filipino netizens.

Some US-based Filipinos sent online messages to friends and relatives living in the Philippines alerting them of a possible tsunami scenario.

Before Phivolcs issued the two advisories, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) had suggested that tsunami waves of less than 0.3 meters high could affect the Philippines. – Rappler.com