SAN FERNANDO CITY, July 27 (PIA) -- Work in all government offices as well as in schools were suspended in La Union due to the strong earthquake at around 8:43 a.m. on Wednesday.

In the Executive Order No. 10 issued by La Union Governor Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David, she said that the Province of La Union was not spared by the earthquake.

This was confirmed later through a report by Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying that the 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit Regions 1, 2, and Cordillera which affected 15 provinces, 15 cities, 280 municipalities, and 6,756 barangays.

“Aftershocks are expected, thus, might endanger the safety of all workers, and to ensure that all homes and establishments are safe, there is a need to suspend work in all government establishments and schools,” Ortega said in the Executive Order.

The said Order does not cover those who are performing frontline and essential services. On the other hand, all private institutions were encouraged to declare the same to their respective establishments.

Immediately after issuance of the said Executive Order, some local chief executives from the component local governments in the province follow suit and issued localized suspension within their jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary Renato Solidum, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), cleared that no tsunami alert was issued despite some reports of unusual wave in the coastal areas of La Union and Ilocos.

“This was not a tsunami. A tsunami would be very high waves because of the uplift of the ocean floor due to an earthquake in the ocean. What happened was there was shaking of the island and the coastal water was shaken, so there was minor sea water isolation,” he explained.

Based on the 3 p.m. bulletin of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), Intensity VI was recorded in La Union which brought cracks in some buildings, churches, bridges and roads, sudden rise in water along coastal area, and collapse of two structures under construction.

Four reported injuries from Agoo town and no fatalities were likewise the result of the initial assessment by the PDRRMO.

Evacuees from Luna and Bagulin were allowed to return to their homes when the National Disaster Reduction and Management Council declared that there was no tsunami. 

Residents are requested to remain alert at all times and are urged to plot the safest emergency routes and the nearest evacuation sites should there be succeeding quakes.

For any emergencies, residents can call La Union Rescue Hotline: 09989611519. (JCR/JPD, PIA La Union)