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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Over 1,300 people evacuated as Taal volcano erupts--OCD

Over 1,300 people evacuated as Taal volcano erupts--OCD

Published Jul 2, 2021 11:55 am

More than 1,300 individuals in Batangas were affected by the sudden phreatomagmatic (magmatic gases and steam) eruption of Taal volcano on Thursday afternoon, July 1.

The eruption sent residents scurrying out of their homes to escape hot ash plumes that were ejected into the air by the volcano, evoking haunting memories of its 2020 eruption.

Phreatomagmatic eruption of Taal Volcano that took place at 3:16 p.m. on July 1, 2021. (Photo from Phivolcs)

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Mark Timbal said Friday, July 2, that a total of 345 families composed of 1,392 individuals were affected by the short-lived eruption of Taal volcano which occured at 3:16 p.m., Thursday. The eruption happened just as the NDRRMC celebrated the start of the National Disaster Resilience Month on July 1.

Of the affected individuals, 317 families or 1,282 individuals were forced to stay at evacuation centers while others sought refuge in the houses of their relatives or friends.

A total of 13 barangays in Batangas were monitored by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as they continuously conducted pre-emptive evacuation of their residents.

These were Barangays Poblacion and Sinturisan in San Nicolas town; Barangays Gulod, Buso Buso, Bugaan West, and Bugaan East in Laurel; and Barangays Subic Ilaya, Banyaga, and Bilibinwang in Agoncillo.

Also affected were Barangay Apacay in Taal; Barangays Luyos and Boot in Tanauan City; and Barangay San Sebastian in Balete.

As of this posting, the OCD has yet to record any fatality from Taal's latest volcanic activity.

"The Volcano Island is of course off-limits and the high-risk barangays are being evacuated by the local government units based on the recommendation of Phivolcs ," Timbal said.

Timbal said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has barred fishermen from sailing into the Taal Lake as a precautionary measure. However, some fishermen were reported to have sailed in the lake to harvest their fishpens.

"Ang napaulat po na pumalaot ay pinayagan (The reported sailings were allowed) to conduct the speedy harvesting of the fishpens. These were closely monitored and supervised by the PCG. As of now, no vessels are allowed ," he noted.

Meanwhile, police and military forces were deployed to the province to assist in the mass evacuation of residents.

Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said he ordered Police Brig. Gen. Eliseo Cruz, regional director of the Calabarzon Police Regional Office (PRO-4A), to coordinate with the LGUs for the possible implementation of a forced evacuation in at least two areas in Batangas, the Agoncillo and Laurel towns.

"Sa tingin ng ating mga authorities ay kailangan magkaroon na ng (The authorities think there should be a) forced evacuation so the police definitely will be in the forefront to implement these orders or advice coming from the higher authorities," Eleazar said.

Major. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said personnel, two military trucks and a towable fuel, and other equipment of the 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) and the Philippine Air Force's 730th Combat Group were deployed to various affected municipalities around Taal Volcano to assist in the evacuation.

Other units of the Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) were also placed on standby as augmentation forces, he added.

The AFP Joint Task Force Taal was deployed to the ground to help in the evacuation of residents in Agoncillo and Laurel starting at 10 p.m. Thursday.

"We have placed more personnel on alert and ready for immediate deployment. Communications equipment were also deployed. Other AFP Units were constituted as Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) including Officer-led Reservists with equipment were placed on standby alert and propositioned at Fernando Airbase in Lipa City," Arevalo said.

"We will continue monitoring the situation and the developments," he added.

Taal's sudden rumblings brought back the memories of the volcano's phreatic (steam) eruption on January 12, 2020 which killed at least 39 people.

Related Tags

70221 Taal Volcano OCD-6 Eruption NDRRMC
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