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By APD writer Melo M. Acuña
A number of towns surrounding Taal Lake in Batangas province began evacuating residents along the shorelines as increased steaming activities have been noticed since 1:00 P.M. today at in least five spots inside the crater of Taal Volcano island.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said residents from San Nicolas, Balete and Talisay, all within the coastline of Taal Lake, have been subjected to evacuation.
A steam-generated (phreatic) explosion sent a grayish plume to a height of approximately 100 meters and has been going on as of the release of Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s (PHIVOLCS) statement at 2:30 P.M.
Since March 28 last year, government scientists noticed their seismic network showed moderate to high level of tremors. A few of these earthquakes ranged from scarcely perceptible to weak shaking accompanied by rumbling sounds in several villages around the lake. Three felt earthquakes were registered since this morning while a series of volcanic earthquakes began at 11:00 A.M. until 2:10 P.M.
PHIVOLCS reported a slight inflation in the volcano since November 2018 while dissolved carbon dioxide concentrations in Taal Main Crater Lake according to continuous monitoring increased gradually since February 2019.
The government, through the PHIVOLCS raised the alert level from Alert Level 1 (Abnormal) to Alert Level 2 (Increased Unrest) which means there is probable magma intrusion which may lead or may not lead to an eruption.
In its bulletin released at 4:00 P.M. today, PHIVOLCS raised the alert status from Alert Level 2 (Increasing Unrest) to Alert Level 3 (Magmatic Unrest).
“As of 2:04 P.M., Taal Volcano Main Crater has escalated its eruptive activity, generating an eruption plume a kilometer high accompanied by volcanic tremor and felt earthquakes in Volcano Island and barangays (villages) of Agoncillo, Batangas. Ashfall is currently being showered on the southwest sector of Taal,” the statement said.
PHIVOLCS said there is magmatic intrusion that is “likely driving the current activity.” It has recommended Taal Volcano Island and high-risk villages of Agoncillo and Laurel towns in Batangas be evacuated due to the possibility of pyroclastic desnity currents and volcanic tsunami.
It has reminded the public that the entire Volcano island is a Permanent Danger Zone and entry to high-risk villages is prohibited. Residents within the lake have been advised to take precautionary measures and remain vigilant for possible lakewater disturbances due to the ongoing unrest.
With this development, tourists have been banned from traveling to the volcano island because sudden steam explosions may take place accompanied by high concentrations of lethal volcanic gases may be released.
There are at least 53 active volcanos in the Philippines. The most famous of which are the 2,462-meter conical Mayon Volcano and the 311-meter Taal Volcano which could be seen from Tagaytay City in Cavite Province and the nearby Batangas Province.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
