Families affected by Taal unrest now 1.9K

MANILA – The number of families affected by the continued unrest of the Taal Volcano has reached 1,902, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Tuesday.

In its 8 a.m. update, the agency said this is equivalent to 6,585 individuals residing in 77 barangays in Region 4A (Calabarzon).

The majority of the affected families came from the towns of Taal, Lemery, Agoncillo, Balete, Cuenca, Talisay, Tanauan, Laurel, Mataas na Kahoy and San Nicolas, all in Batangas.

The NDRRMC said 1,044 families are staying in 23 evacuation centers while the rest are now staying outside with their relatives.

Some PHP1.8 million worth of food packs and other relief items have already been extended to affected individuals.

Taal Volcano has been under Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest) following a phreatomagmatic eruption — a result of the interaction between magma and water — that occurred at its main crater on July 1.

The volcano’s SO2 (sulfur dioxide) gas emissions on Sunday were “anomalously high” at 22,628 tons, the highest it ever recorded, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

Current SO2 parameters indicate ongoing magmatic extrusion at the main crater that may further drive succeeding explosions.