Eruption threat increases in Taal

MANILA – Due to the increasing threat for phreatic eruption steam-driven explosion in Taal Volcano, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Renato Solidum Jr. on Wednesday reiterated that Taal Volcano Island (TVI), Taal’s permanent danger zone (PDZ), is a no-entry zone.

For the past 24 hours, Phivolcs recorded 69 tremor episodes lasting for one to five minutes.

“We also see the likelihood of hydrothermal activity, wherein gas from the magma rises, causing the waters beneath the TVI to become hotter. This is also probably the reason why the main crater lake has become hotter and acidic,” he said during the Laging Handa public briefing.

Last Monday, Phivolcs, in an advisory, said seismic activity (earthquake occurrences) and changes in Taal Volcano’s main crater lake have been observed. At least 50 weak tremor episodes were recorded from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day.

“There is an increasing possibility of a phreatic eruption, like what initially happened on January 12, 2020. The threat remains for the TVI, thus we remind that no one shall be allowed entry into the PDZ, which is the whole island,” he said.

Solidum noted that people are not allowed to return to the island since this is a PDZ.

“Phreatic eruption is fast, sudden. So if people are residing there (in the TVI) or they are asleep especially at night, it would be harder for them to respond,” he said.

“So as a precaution, no one should reside there,” Solidum said.

The volcano is still under alert level 1 (abnormal).

Solidum, meanwhile, reminded the public to only rely on proper information sources, such as the official social media accounts of the DOST-Phivolcs and other concerned government agencies.

“These are file photos and should not be circulated or believed right away,” he said.

At present, around 18 families with 64 individuals were already evacuated.

Evacuees were dropped off in Baywalk at Lakeside, Talisay, Batangas and will be transported to evacuation centers in Barangays Tumaway and Aya, Talisay, Batangas.