The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has issued a warning about the potential for a powerful magnitude 8.4 earthquake due to activity along the Manila Trench, following a series of tremors off the coast of Ilocos Sur.
The agency stated that such an event could generate tsunami waves between 3 and 15 meters high. The tsunami could impact provinces including Zambales, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Cagayan within two to 25 minutes.
In Zambales, particularly in Palauig, waves as high as 14.7 meters could arrive just two minutes after the quake, with similar impacts expected in Vigan City.
Since December 17, PHIVOLCS has recorded 49 earthquakes in Sta. Catalina, with magnitudes ranging from 1.8 to 5.0.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant for sudden changes in sea levels or unusual receding tides, as these may signal imminent danger.