Port operations, water activities suspended following Davao quake

Operations of port terminals and water activities have been suspended in areas affected by the strong quake that hit southern Philippines on Saturday, the maritime sector announced.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) ordered the suspension of PPA terminals that were affected by the quake as indicated in the tsunami advisory released by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

“In view of the Tsunami Warning issued by Phivolcs, PPA has ordered the suspension of operations in PPA terminals affected by the warning,”  PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said in a statement.

READ: Tsunami advisory issued after 7.2 quake off Davao Oriental

In Phivolc’s tsunami advisory, the public was advised to stay away from coasts fronting the Philippine Sea from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the following provinces:

Davao Del Norte Davao Del Sur Davao Oriental Davao City Sarangani South Cotabato Agusan Del Norte Agusan Del Sur Surigao Del Norte Surigao Del Sur

Port personnel and passengers from the said areas were directed to relocate to safer locations.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has also advised the station commander in Davao Oriental province to temporarily suspend all waterborne and coastal activities in the area after the tsunami alert number 1 was issued.

The PCG also directed their personnel in the provinces to monitor developments as a result of ocean disturbances. /ee