Eruption possible in 47 Taal craters
Published Jan 21, 2020 12:00 am
By Alexandria San Juan and Martin Sadongdong
While Taal Volcano seems to have weakened more than a week after it erupted on January 12, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned residents that it is still not safe to return to high-risk areas as threats of dangerous eruption persist.
(Photo by Atty Dante T. Pamintuan | Ayala Westgrove Heights)
Phivolcs' Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division head Mariton Bornas said that the continuous volcanic quakes and emission of sulfur dioxide emissions signify that the magma or molten rocks are moving upward the volcano's surface that might lead to further eruptive activity.
“We continue to record earthquakes and a high sulfur dioxide emission, the volcano is inflated, and there is still magma moving upward the volcano. There is a seeming weakening of activity but it doesn't mean that the danger is over,” she said.
Not yet safe
Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum warned residents that it is still not safe to return to high-risk areas, especially in the volcano island.
He emphasized that an eruption may take place anywhere in the 47 craters in the Taal Volcano Island and not only in the Main Crater.
“The people should know that although the present eruption occurred in the Main Crater, explosions could happen anywhere in the island,” Solidum said.
“The Taal Volcano Island has 47 craters and the eruption could occur anywhere there. That is the reason why we are insisting that it should be off-limits as explosions could happen even under their houses,” he added.
Earlier on Monday, Solidum maintained that the threat of an explosive eruption of Taal Volcano “remains”. He was responding to Talisay Vice Mayor Charlie Natanauan criticism that he is exaggerating the situation.
He explained that magma beneath the volcano has risen to the surface.
“It is still there and still moving,” Solidum said matter-of-factly.
Calm before the storm?
In the latest update on Taal, Phivolcs noted a drop in the volcanic tremors and emission of sulfur dioxide, which is a major gas component of magma, recorded in the past 24 hours.
According to Bornas, the recent sulfur dioxide emission measurement lowered to 344 tons per day compared to the 4,353 tonnes per day recorded on Monday. Sulfur dioxide levels have been fluctuating since it was first recorded on January 13, reaching as high as over 5,000 tons per day.
“The fluctuation actually reflects the interaction of groundwater and the magma. But definitely magma is in the shallow level,” Bornas said.
“Weak steam emission” was also observed in the surface crater of Taal for the past 24 hours which generated 500 to 600 meters tall and dispersed ash southwest of the Main Crater.
Fewer volcanic tremblors were also recorded by the Philippine Seismic Network (PSN) from Monday morning to Tuesday morning – only five quakes were plotted which were registered at magnitudes 1.6 to 2.5 with no felt event.
Meanwhile, 448 volcanic tremors including 17 low-frequency earthquakes were recorded by the Taal Volcano Network which can record small earthquakes undetectable by the PSN, within the same period.
Phivolcs said that these continuous seismic activities likely signify continuous magmatic intrusion beneath the Taal edifice, which may lead to a further explosive eruption.
“At this point hindi natin pwedeng sabihin na ‘pag bumababa 'yung earthquakes ay wala nang panganib. 'Yung na-track po natin na mga lindol ito ay mga magmatic intrusion at nag-supply talaga s'ya ng magma sa Taal Volcano. Nandun na po yung magma, handa na s'yang iputok," Bornas explained.
“At this point, we still cannot say that if there is a diminishing trend of earthquakes and the danger is already gone. The quakes that we have tracked signify magmatic intrusion, meaning a magma is being supplied beneath Taal. The magma is already there and it is ready to erupt,” Bornas explained.
Last Monday, Solidum said magma is being “recharged” beneath the volcano.
Bornas reiterated that a “hazardous explosive eruption” is still possible within hours to days as Alert Level 4 remains in effect over Taal.
Total evacuation reiterated
The state volcanology agency strongly reiterates total evacuation of Taal Volcano Island and high-risk areas identified in the hazard maps within the 14-kilometer radius from Taal Main Crater and along the Pansipit River Valley where fissuring has been observed.
Apart from the Main Crater, eruptions already occurred in other craters of the Taal Volcano since 1572, including the Binintiang Malaki crater – Taal's largest flank cone that is visible from Tagaytay City – in 1707 and 1715; and in Mount Tabaro crater in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1976, and 1977
Phivolcs previously classified Taal Volcano as a complex volcano system, which means that it does not have only one main vent, but several through which it can spew ash, lava, or magma.
According to Phivolcs, Taal is the second most active volcano in the country in terms of number of eruptions, with at least 34 eruptions recorded from 1572 to 1977.
Although tagged as the world's smallest volcano, Taal is also one of the deadliest following its violent eruptions in 1754, 1911, and 1965 leaving thousands of casualties due to various volcanic hazards it brought.
As this developed, Talisay Mayor Natanauan face sanctions over his statement against Solidum.
Elias Fernandez, director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Calabarzon (Cavite, Lagunas, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), explained that the statements of Natanauan is unbecoming of a public servant.
“He is a public official and he is accountable for his statements,” said Fernandez in a press briefing here.
READ MORE: Talisay vice mayor in viral anti-Phivolcs statements faces sanctions
Other developments:
(Photo by Atty Dante T. Pamintuan | Ayala Westgrove Heights)
Phivolcs' Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division head Mariton Bornas said that the continuous volcanic quakes and emission of sulfur dioxide emissions signify that the magma or molten rocks are moving upward the volcano's surface that might lead to further eruptive activity.
“We continue to record earthquakes and a high sulfur dioxide emission, the volcano is inflated, and there is still magma moving upward the volcano. There is a seeming weakening of activity but it doesn't mean that the danger is over,” she said.
Not yet safe
Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum warned residents that it is still not safe to return to high-risk areas, especially in the volcano island.
He emphasized that an eruption may take place anywhere in the 47 craters in the Taal Volcano Island and not only in the Main Crater.
“The people should know that although the present eruption occurred in the Main Crater, explosions could happen anywhere in the island,” Solidum said.
“The Taal Volcano Island has 47 craters and the eruption could occur anywhere there. That is the reason why we are insisting that it should be off-limits as explosions could happen even under their houses,” he added.
Earlier on Monday, Solidum maintained that the threat of an explosive eruption of Taal Volcano “remains”. He was responding to Talisay Vice Mayor Charlie Natanauan criticism that he is exaggerating the situation.
He explained that magma beneath the volcano has risen to the surface.
“It is still there and still moving,” Solidum said matter-of-factly.
Calm before the storm?
In the latest update on Taal, Phivolcs noted a drop in the volcanic tremors and emission of sulfur dioxide, which is a major gas component of magma, recorded in the past 24 hours.
According to Bornas, the recent sulfur dioxide emission measurement lowered to 344 tons per day compared to the 4,353 tonnes per day recorded on Monday. Sulfur dioxide levels have been fluctuating since it was first recorded on January 13, reaching as high as over 5,000 tons per day.
“The fluctuation actually reflects the interaction of groundwater and the magma. But definitely magma is in the shallow level,” Bornas said.
“Weak steam emission” was also observed in the surface crater of Taal for the past 24 hours which generated 500 to 600 meters tall and dispersed ash southwest of the Main Crater.
Fewer volcanic tremblors were also recorded by the Philippine Seismic Network (PSN) from Monday morning to Tuesday morning – only five quakes were plotted which were registered at magnitudes 1.6 to 2.5 with no felt event.
Meanwhile, 448 volcanic tremors including 17 low-frequency earthquakes were recorded by the Taal Volcano Network which can record small earthquakes undetectable by the PSN, within the same period.
Phivolcs said that these continuous seismic activities likely signify continuous magmatic intrusion beneath the Taal edifice, which may lead to a further explosive eruption.
“At this point hindi natin pwedeng sabihin na ‘pag bumababa 'yung earthquakes ay wala nang panganib. 'Yung na-track po natin na mga lindol ito ay mga magmatic intrusion at nag-supply talaga s'ya ng magma sa Taal Volcano. Nandun na po yung magma, handa na s'yang iputok," Bornas explained.
“At this point, we still cannot say that if there is a diminishing trend of earthquakes and the danger is already gone. The quakes that we have tracked signify magmatic intrusion, meaning a magma is being supplied beneath Taal. The magma is already there and it is ready to erupt,” Bornas explained.
Last Monday, Solidum said magma is being “recharged” beneath the volcano.
Bornas reiterated that a “hazardous explosive eruption” is still possible within hours to days as Alert Level 4 remains in effect over Taal.
Total evacuation reiterated
The state volcanology agency strongly reiterates total evacuation of Taal Volcano Island and high-risk areas identified in the hazard maps within the 14-kilometer radius from Taal Main Crater and along the Pansipit River Valley where fissuring has been observed.
Apart from the Main Crater, eruptions already occurred in other craters of the Taal Volcano since 1572, including the Binintiang Malaki crater – Taal's largest flank cone that is visible from Tagaytay City – in 1707 and 1715; and in Mount Tabaro crater in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1976, and 1977
Phivolcs previously classified Taal Volcano as a complex volcano system, which means that it does not have only one main vent, but several through which it can spew ash, lava, or magma.
According to Phivolcs, Taal is the second most active volcano in the country in terms of number of eruptions, with at least 34 eruptions recorded from 1572 to 1977.
Although tagged as the world's smallest volcano, Taal is also one of the deadliest following its violent eruptions in 1754, 1911, and 1965 leaving thousands of casualties due to various volcanic hazards it brought.
As this developed, Talisay Mayor Natanauan face sanctions over his statement against Solidum.
Elias Fernandez, director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Calabarzon (Cavite, Lagunas, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), explained that the statements of Natanauan is unbecoming of a public servant.
“He is a public official and he is accountable for his statements,” said Fernandez in a press briefing here.
READ MORE: Talisay vice mayor in viral anti-Phivolcs statements faces sanctions
Other developments:
- Key officials of the House of Representatives assured on Tuesday the approval of the proposed supplemental allocation of P30 billion for communities severely affected by the Taal Volcano eruption. In a swift response to President Duterte’s request for additional appropriation, House Deputy Speaker and 1Pacman Partylist Rep. Michael Romero and Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said the Lower House will have to put the proposal on top of its legislative priorities. READ MORE: House leaders back P30 billion supplemental budget for Taal per PRRD request
- Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas ordered on Tuesday the construction of interim resettlement sites in large parcels of land owned by the provincial government amid the continuing threat of hazardous eruption of the Taal Volcano. READ MORE: Mandanas orders construction of interim resettlement sites in land owned by prov’l govt
- Economic planners are thinking of mass selling cows, pigs, chickens and other farm animals that were rescued in areas affected by the eruption of Taal volcano, National Economic and Development Authority-Calabarzon (NEDA-4A) Regional Director Luis Banua bared Tuesday. (With reports from Ben R. Rosario and Aaron B. Recuenco) READ MORE: Bright idea: Gov’t must buy all livestock left on Volcano island