Phivolcs lifts tsunami alert

CEBU CITY (7th Update) -- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) lifted the tsunami alert level 3 in several areas in the Visayas and Mindanao almost four hours after a strong earthquake Friday.

Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas announced on Twitter that the Phivolcs cancelled the tsunami warning around 12:10 a.m. Saturday.

This means that families who were earlier evacuated due to the tsunami warning in Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte and Surigao can now go back to their respective residences.

The Phivolcs raised the tsunami alert level 3 around 9 p.m. Friday after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit 112 kilometers (km) southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

The earthquake was also located by the US Geological Survey at 94 km east of Sulangan, Eastern Samar; 161 km east southeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar; and 174 km northeast of Surigao.

Intensity 7 was felt in Guian, Oras, Sulat, Borongan City, all in Eastern Samar, while intensity 6 was felt in Siargao, Surigao del Norte; Tacloban; Palo, Leyte; and St. Bernard, Southern Leyte.

Intensity 5 was felt in Mati City, Compostela, Legaspi City, Iloilo City, Bislig City, and Iligan City; Intensity 4 in Butuan City, Catbalogan City, and Cagayan de Oro City; Intensity 3 in Cotabato City, Mambajao in Camiguin, and General Santos City; and intensity 2 in Marawi City and Sipalay City.

The earthquake was tectonic in origin and had a depth of 10 kilometers.

Damages to road, bridges and houses were reported in areas where the earthquake was felt. In Cagayan de Oro City, a 54-year-old woman was confirmed dead after a landslide triggered by the tremor destroyed her house. The woman’s grandchild was injured and is now being treated in a hospital. (Sunnex)