No Tsunami Threat in RP, Phivolcs Says

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Wednesday allayed fears of tsunami hitting the country following a deadly tsunami in Indonesia Tuesday night.

A 10-foot tsunami, triggered by a powerful earthquake, killed at least a hundred people and displaced thousands off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia on Tuesday.

Last Monday, the Indonesian government issued a tsunami alert after a massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit the country.

According to Phivolcs science research specialist Ric Mangao, the tsunami that occurred in Indonesia does not have any effect on the Philippines.

“This is far from the Philippines. The ripples of the tsunami would not be able to reach the country based on the position of the epicenter, which is in the southern part of Indonesia's island,” Mangao said.

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said the huge tides are not expected to reach the country because it is being blocked by the islands of Sumatra and Java in Indonesia, and Borneo.

“Phivolcs sees no immediate need to issue tsunami alert in the country because there is no tsunami threat to the Philippines,” Mangao stressed.

Phivolcs described tsunami as long-period sea waves or wave trains that are generated by the sudden displacement of water, traveling at high speed water as low broad waves and build to great heights as they approach shores.

It added that most tsunamis are caused by fault displacements on the sea floor and of volcanic origin including volcanic or volcano-tectonic earthquakes, explosions, collapse or subsidence, landslides, lahars, pyroclastic flows or debris avalanches entering bodies of water, and atmospheric waves that couple with the sea.

Ellalyn de Vera, Manila Bulletin