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By APD writer Melo M. Acuña
Disaster mitigation officials decided to raise Taal Volcano’s alert status from Alert Level 3 which means magmatic unrest to Alert Level 4 which states the possibility of a hazardous eruption.
In its latest bulletin released at 7:30 P.M. Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said at 5:30 P.M., the eruptive activity at the Taal Volcano’s main crater “intensified as continuous eruption generated a tall 10-15 kilometer steam-laden tephra column with frequent volcanic lightning.”
The event rained wet ashfall to the volcano’s northern direction, as far as Quezon City which is over 95 kilometers away.
The advisory said volcanic tremor was recorded continuously since 11:00 A.M. and two volcanic earthquakes of magnitudes 2.5 at 6:15 P.M. and 3.9 at 6:22 P.M. were felt at Intensity III in Tagaytay City and in Alitagtag town in Batangas Province.
The decision to increase the volcano’s alert level means that “hazardous explotive eruption is possible within hours to days.
“PHIVOLCS, (an agency under the Department of Science and Technology) strongly reiterates total evacuation of areas at high risk to pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami within a 14-kilometer radius from Taal Main Crater,” the statement said.
Based on their advice, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) suspended flights to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport effective 6:00 P.M., Sunday until further notice.
Classes for tomorrow have been suspended by local authorities due to the hazards the ash fall would bring on students.
Evacuation have already been made in areas earlier identified as high-risk.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
