Local government executives in Rapu-Rapu and Baras towns in Albay canceled classes on Wednesday after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned of ‘minor sea-level disturbance’ in coastal communities following a powerful earthquake from Russia.
Rapu-Rapu mayor Rommel Galicia and Baras mayor Jose Paulo Teves III issued separate advisories as a precautionary measure amid the serious threat posed by the global seismic event. The tremor was located in Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula measuring 8.7 in magnitude based on Phivolcs’ reading.
The schools affected in Baras are Genitligan Elementary School, Agban Elementary and Senior High School, Benticayan Elementary School, Putsan, Danao, Moning, Tilod, Salvacion, and Baras Central Elementary Schools.
Classes and work are also suspended in Marinawa, Batalay, Pananaogan, Carorian, Cagraray, and at the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) field office in Cabugao.
Galicia suspended classes in all levels in his town this afternoon and advised everyone to stay away from coastal areas and remain alert for further updates.
Meanwhile, Acting Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management -APSEMO Head Roderick Mendoza said that based on the updated Tsunami Susceptibility Map, the affected barangays in the province could include the following:
- Pagcolbon
- Binosawan
- Linao
- Tinopan
- Viga
- Buenavista
- Mananao
- Morocborocan
- San Ramon (in Batan island)
- Calinaga
- Bilbao
- Nagcalsot
- Hamorawon in Rapu-Rapu
In Legazpi City, meanwhile, the possible affected barangays include Lamba, Maslog, Buenavista, Victory Village (north and south), Sabang, Padang, Bigaa, Arimbay, Rawis, Homapon, Bagacay, San Francisco, Portion of Bonot, San Roque, Centro Baybay, Pigcale, Puro and Banquerohan.
All affected areas were advised to prepare for possible hazards arising from the Russian quake.
