Continuous but weaker eruptions of the main crater of Taal Volcano due to magmatic and hydrovolcanic processes were recorded over the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Wednesday.
Since Sunday, eruptions of one of the world’s smallest volcanoes sent thousands of residents fleeing their homes for safety. Volcano experts have been anticipating a hazardous magmatic eruption reminiscent of the volcano’s 1754 eruption that altered the natural landscape in that part of the Calabarzon region.
The 1754 eruption, according to history, devastated many towns around the volcano and created the unique caldera that is now known as the Taal Lake, which became home to the tawilis, the only freshwater sardine and the freshwater maliputo, also called talakitok, which can be found only in Taal Lake, now a popular tourist spot in Luzon.
It was said that volcanic debris and pyroclastic material from the volcano completely blocked the Pansipit River, and cut off the lake from the Balayan Bay, which explains why the lake’s waters became freshwater after some time.
Part of its violent past, the 1754 eruption of Taal Volcano lasted for seven months, according to Phivolcs, submerging lakeside towns near it.
On Tuesday, the Provincial Government of Batangas declared the province under a state of calamity as volcanic ashes covered many towns in the province, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes and take shelter in government evacuation centers in various parts of the province.
In its Volcano Bulletin released 8 a.m. on Wednesday, January 15, 2020, Phivolcs reported that the eruption generated dark gray steam-laden fumes that reached approximately 1,000 meters high, dispersing ash to the southwest of the main crater.
Moreover, Phivolcs’ volcanology experts detected new fissures or cracks in more areas. These are in Sinisian, Mahabang Dahilig, Dayapan, Palanas, Sangalang, Poblacion, Mataas na Bayan, in Lemery; Pansipit, Bilibinwang in Agoncillo; Poblacion 1, Poblacion 2, Poblacion 3, Poblacion 5, in Talisay; and Poblacion in San Nicolas.
Phivolcs reported that a fissure cut across the road connecting Agoncillo to Laurel towns.
Meanwhile, volcanologists recorded a total of 466 volcanic earthquakes on Sunday, January 12, 2020, 156 of which were felt with intensities ranging from Intensity 1 to 5.
The past 24 hours, from 5 a.m. on January 14, 2020, until 5 am. on Wednesday, there were 159 volcanic earthquakes, 28 of which were felt with intensities ranging from Intensity 1 to 3.
“Such intense seismic activity probably signifies continuous magmatic intrusion beneath the Taal edifice, which may lead to further eruptive activity,” the Phivolcs Volcano Bulletin read.
Meanwhile, Phivolcs reported that an average of 1,686 tonnes of sulfur-dioxide emission was spewed by the volcano on January 14, 2020.
As such, Phivolcs maintains that Alert Level 4 remains in effect over Taal Volcano.
Alert Level 4 means that hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days, reiterating the need for total evacuation from the Taal Volcano island and high-risk areas as identified in the hazard maps within the 14-kilometer radius from the Taal main crater.
Phivolcs also recommended that people stay away from the Pansipit River Valley where fissuring has been observed.
According to Phivolcs, residents should prepare for the effects of heavy and prolonged ashfall.
At the same time, civil aviation authorities were advised to strictly inform pilots to avoid the airspace around Taal Volcano as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from the eruption column pose hazards to aircrafts.
Lincoln Olayva, science research specialist at Phivolcs’ Volcanology Division earlier said the fissures, or cracks being discovered, indicate magmatic and hydrovolcanic activity is happening.
He said Phivolcs field personnel will look into the cracks as soon as it becomes safe for a site inspection. Because Alert Level 4 remains in effect, he said, the entire 14-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone from the main crater of the volcano is “a no man’s land.”
He said lava fountains and spewing of ashes are expected in the next few hours or maybe days.
“We are still monitoring and as soon as it is safe, we will start conducting an assessment to determine the volume of deposits that were spewed by the volcano,” he said.
Forestry experts said the eruption of Taal Volcano will adversely impact on the surrounding environment. Ricardo Calderon, an assistant secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and concurrent director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) said they expect total destruction of ecosystems in Taal and surrounding areas.
A forester and a former director of the DENR’s Forest Management Bureau (FMB), Calderon said it will take years for forest destroyed by a volcanic eruption to recover.
As soon as possible, they will immediately conduct an assessment of the damage.
For now, he said, field personnel of the DENR are out to rescue affected wildlife that were observed to flee from the Taal Volcano island since Sunday. The DENR appealed to the public not to harm distressed wildlife and urged them to turn-over rescued wildlife, including birds and reptiles to the DENR. Rescued wildlife will be brought to the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City where they will be observed, treated of their injuries and kept safe until they fit to be released back in the wild, Calderon said.
Image credits: Bernard Testa