PREEMPTIVE EVACUATION ORDERED AMID TSUNAMI THREAT

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan has instructed all PCG districts to remain on high alert and closely coordinate with local government units (LGUs) along the country's coastlines.

- By MARTIN SADONGDONG

His directive follows the Office of Civil Defense’s (OCD) advisory issued on Wednesday, July 30, urging LGUs in 22 coastal provinces to initiate preemptive evacuations.

The precautionary measures come in response to a tsunami alert triggered by a powerful magnitude 8.7 earthquake that struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia.