MANILA- The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday advised Filipinos in Libya to prepare for a possible evacuation after it raised the alert level due to continuous fighting.

Foreign Affairs Chief Alan Peter Cayetano has raised the alert level for Filipinos to level III which means voluntary repatriation is advised due to escalating violence seen as a threat to safety.

There are over 3,500 Filipinos in Libya, according to the DFA.

Under Alert Level III, all Filipinos in Libya are urged to start preparing for evacuation and those with valid employment contracts who are currently on vacation in the Philippines will not be allowed to return.

Rapid response teams have been placed by the DFA in Tripoli to assist in the evacuation of the 1,800 Filipinos in the Libyan capital.

The Philippine Embassy earlier urged Filipinos in Tripoli to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary movement amid the factional fighting.

In the event of emergencies, the embassy can be contacted at +218 91 824 4208 and +218 94 454 1283.