Philippine Coast Guard Suspends Small Vessel Trips
LUCENA CITY—The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has halted all trips of small vessels in northern Quezon province starting Wednesday noon due to a tsunami threat. This precaution aims to protect communities and travelers along the eastern seaboard.
The Philippine Coast Guard in northern Quezon, based in Real town, issued the advisory following a warning from the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS). The agency alerted that coastal areas facing the Pacific Ocean could face tsunami wave heights of less than one meter.
Expected Tsunami Arrival Time and Precautions
According to the advisory, the first tsunami waves were anticipated to reach the affected areas between 1 p.m. and 2:40 p.m. on Wednesday. The PCG emphasized that while these waves may not be the largest, they could persist for several hours.
Consequently, the PCG temporarily suspended all watercraft trips with a gross tonnage of 35 GT and below along the eastern seaboard of northern Quezon. This suspension covers vessels operating in the Polillo Islands, the northern coast of Panukulan, the Burdeos Island towns, the eastern coast of Patnanungan, and the municipalities of Jomalig Island.
Local Impact and Resumption of Sea Travel
The PCG clarified that sea travel will only resume once DOST-PHIVOLCS declares the conditions safe. Local authorities and residents were urged to stay vigilant as the situation develops.
The tsunami warning followed a powerful 8.7 magnitude earthquake off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia. This event triggered concerns about potential tsunami waves affecting Philippine coastal communities facing the Pacific Ocean.
Local leaders noted the importance of these early precautions to safeguard lives and property in vulnerable areas. “It may not be the largest, and these waves may continue for hours,” the PCG stated, encouraging everyone to remain cautious.
For more news and updates on tsunami threats, visit Filipinokami.com.
