PHIVOLCS cancels tsunami advisory after Kamchatka earthquake

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) cancelled a tsunami advisory on Wednesday after monitoring for potential tsunamis following an 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.

Mary Ann Gatdula, PHIVOLCS seismology division science research assistant, stated that the agency waited two additional hours before lifting the alert to ensure safety and confirmed no significant sea level disturbances or destructive tsunami waves were recorded since the earthquake struck at 7:25 a.m.

Earlier in the day, the Department of Interior ordered local governments to evacuate residents from coastal areas facing the Pacific after PHIVOLCS warned of potential minor tsunamis with wave heights less than one meter.

Classes were suspended and preemptive evacuations were ordered for residents living in affected coastal areas due to the advisory issued earlier.

PHIVOLCS noted that while no destructive tsunami was anticipated, the public should remain alert and avoid beaches, harbors, and low-lying coastal areas.