PHIVOLCS: Taal, Pinatubo will generate lahar, muddy streamflows due to Dante

Tropical storm Dante is expected to generate volcanic sediment flows or lahar and muddy streamflows in rivers and drainage areas in the vicinities of Taal Volcano and Mount Pinatubo, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said Wednesday.

In an advisory, PHIVOLCS said that prolonged and intense rainfall may generate non-eruption lahars in major rivers draining western Pinatubo.

“Pinatubo lahars will likely be channel-confined and occur on the upper to the middle reaches of the Sto. Tomas-Marella and Bucao River systems,” PHIVOLCS said.

However, the agency added that this may transition to muddy streamflows and affect communities in San Marcelino, San Narciso, San Felipe, and Botolan in Zambales.

According to PHIVOLCS, muddy streamflows may also be generated along the O’Donnel and Pasig-Potrero River systems and will affect communities in Tarlac and Pampanga.

LAHAR ADVISORY FOR TAAL AND PINATUBO VOLCANOES UNDER TROPICAL STORM “DANTE” (CHOI-WAN)
2 JUNE 2021
10:30 AM#taalAdvisory#pinatuboAdvisory pic.twitter.com/CbSgiu7jwv

— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) June 2, 2021

Similarly, prolonged and heavy rainfall may generate muddy streamflow around the slopes west of Taal Lake in Batangas.

PHIVOLCS said the muddy streamflow can affect Agoncillo and Laurel.

Both Batangas and Zambales were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind SIgnal No. 2.

The agency advised affected communities and local government units to take pre-emptive response measures against Dante. —LBG, GMA News