Phivolcs: No tsunami threat to PHL

Filipino seismologists on Friday allayed fears that a magnitude-7.3 quake that hit Japan could generate a tsunami reaching the Philippines.

 

In its bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the alert level for the quake is "0."

 

"Phivolcs Tsunami ALERT Level is 0. This is for information purposes only and there is no tsunami threat to the Philippines from this earthquake," it said.

 

Last year, Phivolcs had issued a tsunami alert over at least 19 areas after a magnitude-9 quake hit Japan.

 

But Phivolcs said Friday's quake was a strong teleseismic quake that occurred off the east coast Of Honshu at 4:18 p.m., with a preliminary magnitude of 7.3.

 

While it said there is no destructive Pacific-wide threat, earthquakes of this size can sometimes generate local tsunami that can be destructive along coast located within 100 km of the epicenter. — TJD, GMA News