Vigan city: The heritage city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur has been selected as the site for this year’s observance of World Tsunami Awareness Day on October 25. On that day, a five-kilometer “tsunami run” will be held where everybody is invited to join, according to Director Teresito Bacolcol of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-Phivolcs).

According to Philippines News Agency, Bacolcol extended a warm invitation on social media, urging the public to participate in the observance of World Tsunami Day in Ilocos. The tsunami run, which will commence at 5 a.m. at the Vigan City Hall, is free for all participants. Those interested in joining are encouraged to register by visiting the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office at the Regional Evacuation Center in Barangay Agusan Sur or by messaging the Vigan City Rescue Team Facebook page.

Bacolcol mentioned that participants will be provided with race bibs and refreshments. Organizers of the event have emphasized that the primary objective of the tsunami run is to raise awareness about the appropriate actions to take in the event of a tsunami threat.

Last year, the city of Mati in Davao Oriental hosted more than 1,600 runners during the first tsunami run, marking the centennial anniversary of the magnitude 8.3 earthquake that triggered a deadly tsunami in 1924.