MANILA, Philippines – State volcanology and seismology bureau Phivolcs lowered Taal Volcano's alert status from Level 4 to Level 3 on Sunday, January 26 or exactly two weeks after the phreatic eruption that caused major damages in Batangas, Cavite and nearby areas.
There is also a downtrend in volcanic quakes from 944 to 420 events per day.
Phivolcs, however, emphasized that entry into Taal Volcano Island (TVI), Taal's Permanent Danger Zone, as well as into areas over Taal Lake and communities west of TVI "within a 7 km-radius" from the Taal Crater must be strictly prohibited.
State volcanologists also remind the public that at Alert Level 3, sudden steam-driven and even weak phreatomagmatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall and lethal volcanic gas expulsions can occur and threaten areas within TVI and nearby lakeshores.
Phivolcs advises local government units to assess areas outside the 7-km radius for damages and road accessibilities and strengthen preparedness, contingency and communication measures in case of renewed unrest.
People are also advised to observe precautions due to ground displacement across fissures, frequent ashfall and minor earthquakes.
Phivolcs chief Renato Solidum earlier said they are not expecting "any activity for now" as long as magma deep beneath the volcano does not move.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Response and Management Council (NDRRMC) reports on Sunday that a total of 98,000 families or 376,000 persons in the provinces of Batangas, Quezon, Laguna and Cavite were affected by Taal's unrest. Of this number, 135,365 persons were taking temporary shelter in 497 evacuation centers while 168,569 were "served outside evacuation centers."
— The Summit Express
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| Taal Volcano now under Alert Level 3. Screenshot from ABS-CBN's live shot of the volcano today, January 26. |
“This serves as a notice for the lowering of Taal Volcano’s status from Alert Level 4 or hazardous eruption imminent to Alert Level 3, decreased tendency towards hazardous eruption,” Phivolcs said in a statement.
There is also a downtrend in volcanic quakes from 944 to 420 events per day.
Phivolcs, however, emphasized that entry into Taal Volcano Island (TVI), Taal's Permanent Danger Zone, as well as into areas over Taal Lake and communities west of TVI "within a 7 km-radius" from the Taal Crater must be strictly prohibited.
State volcanologists also remind the public that at Alert Level 3, sudden steam-driven and even weak phreatomagmatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall and lethal volcanic gas expulsions can occur and threaten areas within TVI and nearby lakeshores.
Phivolcs advises local government units to assess areas outside the 7-km radius for damages and road accessibilities and strengthen preparedness, contingency and communication measures in case of renewed unrest.
People are also advised to observe precautions due to ground displacement across fissures, frequent ashfall and minor earthquakes.
Phivolcs chief Renato Solidum earlier said they are not expecting "any activity for now" as long as magma deep beneath the volcano does not move.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Response and Management Council (NDRRMC) reports on Sunday that a total of 98,000 families or 376,000 persons in the provinces of Batangas, Quezon, Laguna and Cavite were affected by Taal's unrest. Of this number, 135,365 persons were taking temporary shelter in 497 evacuation centers while 168,569 were "served outside evacuation centers."
— The Summit Express
