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Taal Volcano Island ordered evacuated amid increased seismic activity


Forced evacuation ordered on Taal Volcano Island after increased seismic activity —MDRRMO

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Agoncillo, Batangas on Tuesday said forced evacuation is ongoing on Taal Volcano Island after increased seismic activities were observed.

“Pwersahan pong pinalilikas ang mga taong nasa pulo at mahigpit pa rin pong ipinagbabawal sa ating mga kababayan ang paglapit at manatili sa mismong isla dahil sa nakaambang panganib,” Agoncillo MDRRMO said in a Facebook post.

“Pinapayuhan pa rin po ang publiko na ibayong pag-iingat at maging alerto, handa sa lahat ng oras. Ipagdasal po natin na sana ay huwag ng lumala pa ang sitwasyon at kalagayan ng ating mahal na Bulkang Taal,” it added.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s media liaison officer Easha Mariano said they received information that residents from two sitios in the town of Talisay were being evacuated.

“We received initial info na on-going ang evacuation sa mga residenteng na nasa Taal volcano mismo na dapat No Man's land kaya kailangan sila palikasin. Ang mga pinapalikas ay mula sa dalawang sitio ng Municipality of Talisay,” she told reporters in a message.

“This order is for precautionary measure done in line with the recent activities of the volcano pero hindi 'naga-alburuto' po ang Taal,” she added.

Mariano underscored that the volcano is still at Alert Level 1.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commander Armand Balilo said some  personnel of Coast Guard Batangas, Talisay Police, and MDRRMO  headed to the area to ensure the safety of the residents.

“Upon signal from the Municipal Administrator of Talisay, Batangas joint elements of PNP Talisay, MDRRMO and personnel of Coast Guard Batangas onboard five PCG water assets,” he told reporters in a message.

Balilo said authorities will conduct advisory, inspection, and fetch the people from the Taal Volcano Island.

Initially, PCG personnel estimated that around 200 people will be evacuated from the area. However, they only chanced upon 60 residents so far. The evacuation operation is still ongoing.

Volcanic activities

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Tuesday said 98 tremor activities were recorded in the past 24 hours on Taal Volcano.

The volcanic earthquakes lasted for five to 12 minutes.

The main crater had weak emission of steam-laden plumes that reached 5 meters high.

Meanwhile, the temperature in the main crater lake was at 77.1 degrees Celsius at its highest with a pH of 1.59 on Feb. 12.

“Ground deformation parameters from continuous electronic tilt on Volcano Island record a slight deflation around the Main Crater since October 2020 but overall, very slow and steady inflation of the Taal region has been recorded by continuous GPS data after the eruption,” PHIVOLCS said in its bulletin.

 

 

PHIVOLCS reminded the public that sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions may occur, as well as volcanic earthquakes, minor ash fall and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas.

It strongly recommended that entry be prohibited into Taal Volcano Island, the permanent danger zone, especially the main crater and Daang Kastila fissure.

PHIVOLCS also said pilots must avoid flying close to the volcano since sudden explosions of ash may pose danger to aircraft. —KG/KBK/RSJ, GMA News

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