By Alexandria Dennise San Juan, Aaron Recuenco, and Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz Taal Volcano belched lava fountain, or a spray of hot rocks and gases, early Monday after its phreatic eruption on Sunday that sent ashes raining on neighboring provinces, reaching as far as Central Luzon. PHIVOLCS/ MANILA BULLETIN Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Renato Solidum Jr. said lava flowed from the main crater of Taal around 3:20 a.m. on Monday, which is a sign of ongoing movement of magma from beneath the volcano. “Nagkaroon ng lava fountaining ang Taal Volcano na talagang definite, may parang apoy na lumalabas sa crater. Ito po ay magma o lava na lumalabas,” Solidum said in an interview, adding  that lava fountain is part of the expected activity of Taal, and evident in its past history of eruptions. The recent activity, classified by Phivolcs as magmatic eruption, is characterized by weak lava fountaining accompanied by thunder and flashes of lightning. Mandatory evacuation Alert level 4 has been raised by Phivolcs over Taal Volcano since Sunday evening, meaning a “hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days,” prompting authorities to evacuate at least 7,700 residents in nearby areas as of 6 a.m. Monday. Joselito Castro, head of the Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said Alert level 4 means a hazardous eruption is imminent and the order for the mandatory evacuation of residents in the danger zones will be implemented. In such case, authorities are eyeing the evacuation of some 200,000 residents. “The figure 200,000 is our projected number of evacuees if a major eruption occurs. These are the people living within 14-15 kilometer danger zone in Batangas,” Castro said in an interview. So far, Castro said their target of evacuation is at least 50 percent of the 200,000 figure. READ MORE: Batangas to evacuate 200-K from Taal area in case of major eruption; state of calamity to be declared Volcanic tsunami With Taal’s increased activity, Phivolcs warned of the possibility of a volcanic tsunami – a mass movement of water caused by a volcano which can be triggered by underwater explosions and shock waves caused by large explosions. “When a significant volume of volcanic debris would enter lake water, this can display significant volume of water. So, the water can generate waves toward the shoreline – that’s what we call volcanic tsunami,” Solidum explained in an interview with CNN. READ MORE: Series of tremors in eruption-affected areas not a result of movement in Valley Fault System – Solidum Mudslide On the other hand, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said light to moderate rains could trigger mudslides in Batangas, Laguna, and Cavite due to the ongoing eruption of Taal Volcano. PAGASA weather specialist Meno Mendoza said the volcanic activity has triggered the occurrence of rains and thunderstorms in Batangas and nearby provinces. Weather specialist Joey Figuracion explained that the interaction of hot volcanic ash and cold ice crystals lead to cloud formation causing rain and volcanic lightning in the vicinity and neighboring areas of Taal Volcano. “Cloudy skies with isolated rains and thunderstorms may prevail over Batangas, Laguna, and Cavite due to the continuous volcanic activity. These areas may also experience reduced visibility during ashfall and mudflow caused by light to moderate rains,” Mendoza said. READ MORE: PAGASA: Rains from volcanic activity could trigger mudslides in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas Up to 7 months eruption Apart from hazards expected after Taal Volcano's eruption, state volcanologists said prolonged eruption of up to seven months could be the worst case scenario for the volcano's intense unrest activity. Citing historical records of the volcano's past eruptions, Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division chief Mariton Bornas noted that Taal's ongoing eruption could last for at least three days similar to the 1911 eruption, or as long as seven months like what happened in 1754. “It could be short, it could be long. Hopefully, short lang kasi malaking dagok po iyan sa mga kababayan natin sa Batangas,” Bornas said in a press conference in Quezon City. Solidum said the agency is still monitoring possible hazards and worst case scenarios that could came up once the danger level in Taal Volcano was raised to five. READ MORE: Taal eruption activity could last from 3 days to 7 months – Phivolcs Eruption and ashfall Taal, which is one of the most active volcanoes in the country located in the province of Batangas, belched steam, ash, and small rocks Sunday morning, which surprised unaware residents and tourists in the area. The 50,000-feet-tall ash cloud blanketed provinces surrounding the volcano, including parts of Calabarzon, Metro Manila, reaching as far as Central Luzon, particularly in Pampanga, which forced the suspension of flights in the country's main airports, as well as classes in school, and work government offices. The latest bulletin of Phivolcs said that ashfall from the eruption of Taal fell in the city of Tanauan in Batangas; Escala in Tagaytay; Sta. Rosa in Laguna; and Dasmariñas, Bacoor, and Silang in Cavite. In Bulacan, there were ashfalls observed in the cities of Malolos, San Jose Del Monte, and Meycauayan, and also Antipolo, Rizal, Phivolcs added. Volcanic ashes have also reportedly reached most parts of Metro Manila including Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Marikina, Parañaque, Pasig, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Manila, Makati City and Taguig City. While larger particles called “lapilli,” measuring two to 64 millimeters in diameter, have reportedly fallen in the areas of Tanauan and Talisay in Batangas; Tagaytay City; and in Nuvali and Sta. Rosa in Laguna. READ MORE: PAGASA: Rains from volcanic activity could trigger mudslides in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas N95 mask P35-P40 only – DTI Solidum advised the public to protect their mouth and noses by using N95 grade face masks or wet cloth or towel to prevent inhalation of fine ashfall and its sulfurous smell as this can cause irritation and breathing problems, especially among the elderly and children. With the ashfall affecting wide areas, the price of N95 mask suddenly increase from P25 to P200 a piece. The Department of Trade and Industry warned traders and retailers who jacked-up prices, stressing that the price of the N95 face masks should be within the P35-P40 per piece. The DTI has also asked the Department of Health of the possibility of implementing a suggested retail price for this medical device. “DTI will not hesitate to file administrative and criminal charges against unscrupulous business entities and individuals who capitalize on the consumers’ need for their own profit,” said DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez. “Those found to have unreasonably increased their prices for gas masks, face masks and other similar items, which act is tantamount to profiteering, shall be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law,” Lopez added. READ MORE: Face mask price range at P35-P40 per piece only -- DTI Poor visibility Meanwhile, motorists were also urged to drive with extreme caution as ash causes poor visibility and, when wet, could make roads slippery. The visibility problem has already claimed casualties. Col. Eleazar Matta, director of the Laguna Provincial Police Office, said a truck driven by Gilbert Briones overturned while travelling on a curve portion of a road in Barangay Paciano Rizal, in Calamba City. Briones died in the accident. “The driver lost control of the truck due to zero visibility because the windshield was covered with ashes,” said Matta. The accident also inflicted injuries to truck helpers Jovin Dayson Daen, 22; Charity Flores, 33; and; Reymar Dayson Daen, 34. Residents in areas north of Taal Volcano were also advised to guard against the effects of heavy and prolonged ashfall. Phivolcs also asked civil aviation authorities to order aircraft to avoid the airspace around Taal Volcano as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from the eruption column pose serious threats. READ MORE: Driver dies from truck crash due to ashfall Volcanic quakes So far, Bornas said the Philippine Seismic Network has recorded a total of 75 volcanic earthquakes in Taal region as of 5 a.m. Monday. Thirty-two of these were felt with intensities ranging from Intensity II to V in Tagaytay City, Cabuyao, Laguna, Talisay, Alitagtag, Lemery and Bauan, Batangas. “Such intense seismic activity probably signifies continuous magmatic intrusion beneath the Taal edifice, which may lead to further eruptive activity,” Phivolcs added. READ MORE: Taal spews lava, fire as magma deposits push upward Classes, gov’t work suspended In the interest of public safety, the Office of the Executive Secretary was made upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), suspended classes and government work on Monday in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon affected by the increased volcanic activity of Taal Volcano. Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta also ordered the suspension of work in all courts in the National Capital Judicial Region (NCJR) on Monday. To coordinate government efforts, Senator Francis Tolentino, a former mayor of Tagaytay City and President Duterte's pointman in many previous natural disasters, met with several mayors of Batangas and representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Public Works and Highways, Phivolcs, Philippine National Police, AFP Southern Luzon Command, Department of Health, National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office, Batangas provincial government and others at the Tagaytay International Convention Center at 8 a.m. on Monday. (With reports from Hanah Tabios, Martin A. Sadongdong, Genalyn D. Kabiling, Rey G. Panaligan, Analou de Vera, Minka S. Tiangco, and Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat) READ MORE: DepEd: Over 5 million learners affected by Taal eruption