Preemptive evacuations conducted on Taal Volcano Island

MANILA – The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) clarified that evacuations in Taal Volcano Island on Tuesday morning are preemptive measures and done for fish pen workers and families tending animals on the island.

“Nagkaron po ng paglillinaw ang mga kasamahan po natin sa OCD CALABARZON (Office of Civil Defense-Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon provinces) yung evacuation po na tinutukoy is a preemptive measure po and this was done for the fish pen workers na ginagawang pahingahan yung island (It was clarified by our OCD CALABARZON personnel that the said evacuation was a preemptive measure for the fish pen workers usually resting in the island),” said NDRRMC deputy spokesperson Mark Cashean Timbal in a message to reporters on Tuesday afternoon.

Timbal added that no other evacuations were conducted in Batangas as of this time.

“Wala pong ibang location sa Batangas ang nagkaron ng evacuation outside the (Taal) Volcano Island,” he added.

Evacuations were ordered due to the increase in volcanic activity.

Timbal said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) also evacuated some families who have returned to the island since Taal Volcano’s status was lowered to Alert Level 1 on March 19, 2020.

“It was also found out that some families returned to the island when Taal quieted down previously. Inevacuate na din po sila ng mga kasamahan natin sa Coast Guard (They were evacuated by our colleagues from Coast Guard),” Timbal said.

In a message to reporters, the PCG said at least 60 individuals have been evacuated and the number may yet increase as the evacuation is still ongoing.

“This is our estimated count as we speak (60 residents) dahil ongoing pa rin ang evacuation ng mga residents, especially yung mga caretakers ng mga hayop (because the evacuation for residents is still ongoing, especially those left in charge of domestic animals),” the PCG said in a statement.

It said evacuation began at around 11:15 a.m. upon the go signal by the municipal administrator of Talisay, Batangas.

With the help of Philippine National Police (PNP) Talisay, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Talisay, and the Talisay Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), the PCG Barangas deployed five water assets to conduct the preemptive evacuation.

“Liban sa pagpapalikas sa mga residente, ininspeksyon din ang paligid ng isla para makapagsagawa ng karagdagang precautionary measure sa mga susunod na oras at araw (Aside from the evacuation of residents, the areas surrounding the island is also being inspected to allow for additional precautionary measures in the coming hours and days),” the PCG said.

Those evacuated, it said, were taken to the City Social Welfare and Development Office in Talisay, Batangas.

Timbal said the Batangas Provincial DRRM Council remains on top of the situation while on support is the Regional DRRM Council for Calabarzon.

He said the NDRRMC is constantly monitoring the situation.

“The Batangas PDRRM Council po in coordination with other relevant government agencies are providing the services for those who were evacuated from the island,” he added.

Timbal also said they are still checking on reports that other localities have conducted preemptive evacuations noting that this only occurred in Taal Volcano Island.

“We will check this. So far po, preemptive evacuation po is within the island itself and no other location in the mainland,” he added.

For the first time since 1977, Taal Volcano erupted on Jan. 12, 2020, spewing ashes across Calabarzon, Metro Manila, and some parts of Central Luzon and Ilocos Region.

It resulted in the suspension of school classes, work, and flights near the area as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) subsequently issued an Alert Level 4.

On Tuesday, Phivolcs said seismic activity and changes in Taal Volcano’s main crater lake have been observed on Monday despite the volcano under alert level 1.

The Phivolcs said 50 weak tremor episodes were recorded from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m., occurring at shallow depths. Seismic activity describes earthquake occurrences in the volcano.

This signals increased hydrothermal activity beneath Taal Volcano island.

The Phivolcs also logged 68 shallow tremor episodes in the volcano island since Feb. 13.