Phivolcs issues sea-level monitoring advisory due to Chile quake

MANILA -- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Thursday instructed certain provinces in the country to monitor the change in sea levels of their respective coasts following the magnitude 7.9 earthquake which jolted Chile.

In its "Tsunami Information No.1" released Thursday morning, Phivolcs, in particular, issued the advisory to the provinces of Batanes Group of Islands, Sorsogon, Cagayan Northern Samar, Ilocos Norte, Eastern Samar, Isabela, Leyte,Quezon, Southern Leyte, Aurora, Surigao del Norte, Camarines Norte, Surigao del Sur, Camarines Sur, Davao Oriental, Albay, Davao del Sur, Catanduanes and Davao Occidental.

Phivolcs said these provinces, fronting the Pacific Ocean, are "advised to wait and listen for updates." However, it said there is no evacuation order implemented in these areas.

The agency issued the advisory as it warned that the Chile earthquake has the "potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours."

The earthquake struck the South American nation at 6:55 a.m. Thursday Philippine time and has a depth of 33 kilometers. (Benjamin Nathaniel Bondoc/PNA)