Phivolcs lifts tsunami warning in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Institute on Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Monday lifted the tsunami alert it issued earlier covering southern Philippine provinces following the magnitude-7.6 earthquake that rocked Indonesia. In its 4 a.m. bulletin, Phivolcs cancelled the Tsunami Alert Level 1 in Zamboanga and Davao provinces and the warnings issued to communities along the coastal areas of Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Zamboanga del Sur, Basilan, Tawi-tawi, and Sulu provinces. “There were still no reports of minor sea level changes in the coastal areas fronting the Celebes Sea due to the magnitude-7.6 earthquake in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Therefore, Phivolcs is canceling the Tsunami Alert level 1 issued at 1:28 a.m.," Phivolcs said. The strong teleseismic earthquake that jolted Sulawesi 1:02 a.m. Monday was located at 1.2 north latitude, 122.2 east latitude, with the depth of 40 kilometers. Phivolcs said “an earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours." “The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii will monitor sea level gauges nearest the region and report if any tsunami wave activity is observed," Phivolcs said in its earlier advisory. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV