UK, Canada alert citizens
Two countries issued advisories for nationals to be vigilant amid tremors
AFTER the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that hit off the coast of Samar on Friday night, the governments of United Kingdom and Canada immediately placed on alert their own citizens based in the Philippines.
In separate advisories issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, they both urged their respective nationals to be vigilant over the aftermath of the tremor.
According to the Canadian government, their nationals should know what to do in case of emergency situations like the quake.
“The Philippines is subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity. Canadians should know the address and telephone number of the Embassy of Canada in Manila in the event of an emergency,” said the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.
Coordination
The UK government, for its part, also assured that they are closely coordinating with local authorities over developments on the matter.
“The British Embassy is in touch with local authorities and wardens in the affected areas,” assured the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
On Friday, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the east coast of the Samar province prompting tsunami warnings in the Philippines, Japan, Indone- sia, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea, and other islands in the Pacific, including Hawaii.
The tsunami alert warning was lifted hours later.
Based on the records of the Philippine Department of Tourism, there were 65,503 Ca- nadian nationals and 57,181 UK nationals that visited the country during the first half of 2012.
Impact
The earthquake that struck at 8:47 p.m. on Friday triggered a landslide that killed a 54-year- old woman and damaged seven houses in Cagayan de Oro City. The woman’s five-year-old grandson is still recuperating in the hospital.
Disaster officials are still assessing the extent of damage of Friday’s tremor. (Sunnex)