April 4, 2023 — State seismologists issued a tsunami warning for Catanduanes, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar following a magnitude 6.6 earthquake off the coast of Catanduanes town.
“Based on the tsunami wave models and early tide gauge records of the tsunami, it is expected to experience wave heights of less than one meter above the normal tides and may be higher on enclosed bays and straits,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in its advisory.
In a warning issued by Phivolcs, residents of the coastal provinces are advised to relocate further inland and avoid the beaches and coast. Boat owners in the harbors, estuaries, or shallow coastal waters of those provinces should lock up their vessels and relocate away from the water’s edge.
In addition, the alert advised ships already at sea to remain offshore in deep waters until further notice.
According to Phivolcs, the first tsunami waves will arrive between 09:02 PM to 12:54 AM on April 5 based on the forecast. They also added that these waves may continue for hours.
The following areas have felt intensities:
Intensity II – Palo, Leyte
Subservient intensities were also recorded in the following areas:
Intensity IV – San Jorge, Samar
Intensity II – Legazpi City, Albay; Daet, Camarines Norte; Sipocot, Iriga City, Pili in Camarines Sur; Kananga, Dulag, Abuyog in Leyte; San Roque, Northern Samar; and Bulusan, Prieto Diaz in Sorsogon
Intensity I – Ragay, Pasacao in Camarines Sur; Quinapondan, Eastern Samar; Palo, Alangalang in Leyte; Monreal, Uson in Masbate; Gumaca, Polillo, Mauban, Guinayangan in Quezon; and Donsol, Sorsogon
The general public is urged to watch out for strange waves. Until this recommendation is removed, people are advised to “avoid the beach and avoid going to the coast” in the abovementioned provinces.
The tectonic tremor, which happened 120 kilometers southeast of the town of Gigmoto at about 8:54 p.m., had a shadow depth of nine kilometers, according to Phivolcs.
Damage from the tremor and subsequent aftershocks is anticipated.