Woman dies in tsunami scare in Quezon; Phivolcs says no such threat

An elderly woman died as some 5,000 people fled in panic after text messages circulated in two towns in Quezon province Tuesday night about a supposed tsunami threat.

 

The text messages first spread in Candelaria town, GMA News stringer Peewee Bacunio reported on dzBB radio.

 

Some 5,000 people fled their homes after receiving the supposed text messages indicating the tsunami was coming from Batangas.

 

One elderly woman died after she had a heart attack, GMA's News TV Live reported Wednesday.

 

A separate dzBB report early Wednesday said the text messages appeared to start spreading 10 p.m. Tuesday.

 

Meanwhile, a separate report by GMA News' Saleema Refran indicated residents in Sariaya town also panicked after receiving messages of a tsunami.

No tsunami alert

 

The dzBB update said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office assured the residents there is no tsunami.



The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) also confirmed it is impossible to have a tsunami alert at this time in any part of the country.

According to Engr. Henry Penarubia of Phivolcs, there was no significant earthquake in the past 24 hours.

What happened in Quezon may have been a change in water level due to the winds brought about by Typhoon Henry, which is a normal occurrence during a typhoon, Penarubia said, as reported by GMA's News TV Live.

Phivolcs cautioned fishermen from going out to sea due to the gale warning issued by Pagasa.

 

Quezon is one of the areas hit hard by Typhoon Glenda (Rammasun) earlier this month. —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News