Tsunami alert up in 20 provinces following Chile quake

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Thursday raised tsunami alerts in 20 provinces following a magnitude 7.9 earthquake near the coast of Chile.

"An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours," PHIVOLCS said in a statement.

The coastal communities of the following areas are advised to wait for updates:

• Batanes Group of Islands
• Cagayan
• Ilocos Norte
• Isabela
• Quezon
• Aurora
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Catanduanes
• Sorsogon
• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur
• Davao Oriental
• Davao del Sur
• Davao Occidental

The PHIVOLCS clarified that no evacuation is in effect.

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