(Eagle News)–Residents of four areas in the northern part of the Philippines were “strongly advised” on Wednesday, April 3, to immediately move to higher ground or farther inland following a strong earthquake in Taiwan.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said covered by the advisory were residents of the Batanes Group of Islands, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Isabela.
In issuing the advisory, PHIVOLCS noted that the coastal areas in the Philippines fronting the Pacific Ocean were expected to experience “high tsunami waves” based on tsunami wave models and early tide gauge records of the tsunami in the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
It said the first waves were expected to arrive between 8:33 a.m. and 10:33 a.m.
“(They) may not be the largest and these waves may continue for hours,” PHIVOLCS said.
PHIVOLCS said the owners of boats in harbors, estuaries or shallow coastal waters in the above-mentioned areas should “secure their boats and move away from the waterfront.”
“Boats already at sea during this period should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised,” PHIVOLCS said.
PHIVOLCS said the 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan at 7:58 a.m.