Tsunami Alert Lifted in Philippines

The government lifted Friday evening the tsunami alert in 19 provinces in the country as no "unusual waves" were monitored in the eastern seaboard of the Philippines where evacuation was earlier ordered. Tsunami alerts were also issued to a number of areas in the Pacific, South East Asia and Latin America, including Japan, Russia, Indonesia, New Zealand and Chile following a magnitude-8.9 tremor that hit Japan's eastern coast on Friday.

The powerful quake spawned big waves, killing hundreds of people in Japan as it swept away ships, cars and homes while widespread fires burned out of control.

In the Philippines, the government issued tsunami alert level 2 in 19 provinces facing the Pacific Ocean just over an hour after the massive earthquake in Japan. The provinces placed under alert were Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Quezon, Aurora, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the first and second wave of tsunami from Japan hit the country's shores around 6 p.m. Friday, particularly in the coastal areas of Aparri, Cagayan and Basco, Batanes. Waves measuring O.6 meters were reported in those areas, said Executive Director Benito Ramos of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

"It won't cause any damage to property. Not even a duck will float on it," quipped Ramos when asked by reporters at the NDRRMC main office in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Ramos said it's like a high tide and it won't affect anything.

In Cagayan province, four waves were recorded in San Vicente town, with the first wave measuring 60 centimeters hitting the shores at 6 p.m. It was followed by another wave of the same height at 6:20 p.m.; a 40 centimeter wave at 6:50 p.m.; and another 40-centimeter wave at 7:30 p.m.

Virac, Catanduanes also felt the tsunami, with three waves occurring at 6:30 p.m., 7:10 p.m., and 7:50 p.m. The highest was at 70 centimeters, said the NDRRMC.

In Baler, Aurora, three waves were also recorded. The first occurred at 6:30 p.m. at 40 centimeters; second at 7:10 p.m. - 40 centimeters; and third at 8 p.m. - 30 centimeters.

The NDRRMC said other areas hit by tsunami waves were Infanta in Quezon, and Surigao. Latest reports said Mati City in Davao Oriental and Davao City were also hit by the tsunami, but no damage was expected.

The Phivolcs said the lifting of the alert level is good news, as it means that residents who earlier evacuated can now go back to their respective homes. Hundreds of residents in some areas located at the eastern seaboard of the country have evacuated following the tsunami warning raised by the Phivolcs. They were earlier warned of "unusual waves" that may reach at most one meter. Vessels cruising areas near the Pacific Ocean were also not allowed to leave. They were advised to seek shelter.

Local governments' actions -- Local government leaders swiftly responded to the advisory by the NDRRMC and immediately convened their respective local disaster councils.

Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon ordered Friday the forced evacuation of those living along the Pacific coastline. Davao Oriental has the longest coastline facing the Pacific.

The police chief in the neighboring Davao del Sur has advised residents in several municipalities to leave their homes until advised to return.

Ordered to evacuate were residents in the towns of Sarangani, Jose Abad Santos, Don Marcelino, Sta. Cruz, Sta. Maria, and Malalag, said provincial police chief Ronald dela Rosa.

Mati City Mayor Michelle Rabat called for an emergency meeting of the city disaster coordinating council to implement measures for evacuation in areas that would be possibly hit by tsunami. Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat, for his part, communicated with village heads in coastal communities although Zamboanga is not within the direct path of the tsunami.

"We want to make sure that our citizens are informed about the bulletin to avoid panic," he said.

In Dagupan City in Luzon, classes in schools located in coastal barangays were suspended around 3 p.m., said City Councilor City Councilor Bryan Lim.

Aquino sends condolences -- While in Singapore, President Benigno Aquino III sent on Friday his condolences to Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan after the earthquake and tsunami on Friday.

"The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the entire Filipino nation join me in expressing both our most profound condolences and sympathies, as well as our solidarity with Your Excellency and the people of Japan, as you strive to cope with this tragedy whose devastation, it pains us, are still unfolding," Aquino's letter read.

Aquino assured Kan that the Philippines "stands ready to extend any support and assistance within its capability."

President Aquino returned to the country on Friday night to personally attend to government efforts intended to ease the most serious tsunami scare that has beset the country for decades. Aquino went to Singapore to woo potential investors and meet thousands of Filipinos living or working in the Asian city-state. Prior to his three-day stay visit, he forged bilateral agreements with Indonesia, Southeast Asia's lone oil-producing nation.

No Filipino casualty yet -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is also closely monitoring the situation regarding the safety and welfare of Filipinos in affected areas in Japan.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto del Rosario was ordered by President Aquino to communicate with the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo and the Consulate General in Osaka to render all possible assistance. The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo also stated that it is exerting efforts to get in touch with Philippine Honorary Consulates in Sapporo, Morioka and Nagoya, and members of the Filipino community for initial reports of any injury or casualty.

"We haven't received reports that a Filipino died in the earthquake," Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manolo Lopez said in a television interview Friday night.

In Manila, the department has established a hotline for Japan-related concerns at (02) 834-4646 and 834-4580.Requests for information may also be sent through e-mail address dfaoumwa.cmc@gmail.com.

Government records show there are 300,000 Filipinos working in the industrialized nation, where President Aquino attended the 18th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit last year.

The Philippines sits on the "Pacific Ring of Fire" where continental plates meet, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity. About 20 earthquakes hit the country every day but only a few are felt. The worst tsunami to hit the country so far was in August 1976, when a magnitude-7.9 tremor killed more than 5,000 people in the coastal communities in Sulu, Cotabato and Zamboanga City.

(Bong Garcia/JOP/BOT/Dondon Dinoy/Sun.Star Davao/Virgil Lopez/Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre/PNA/AP/Sunnex)