Govt braces for bigger Taal eruption
Credit to Author: THE MANILA TIMES| Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2020 04:15:53 +0000
President Rodrigo Duterte flew back to Manila from Davao City on Monday as the government braces for a possible hazardous eruption of Taal Volcano.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned that a volcanic tsunami may occur if the alert level is raised to 5.
“Yung volcanic tsunami po, pwede po natin iexpect sa panahon na mag-intesify pa po lalo ‘yung pinapakita ng Taal ngayon sa alert level 5, (A volcanic tsunami is possible if Taal Volcano’s activity intensifies),” Phivolcs Supervising Science Research Specialist Winchelle Sevilla said in a press briefing.
The volcanic tsunami may occur in caldera lakes when water is displaced because of deformation of the lake floor caused by rising magma, the official explained.
Alert Level 4 was raised on Sunday, meaning “hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days,” still remains over Taal Volcano.
A “weak” lava fountain erupted from the active volcano for an hour and a half early Monday.
Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said lava has reached the surface of Taal Volcano but it does not mean that the volcano has entered the “hazardous explosive eruption” phase although this is a possibility.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte was on board the first plane that landed in Manila on Monday morning.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Monday a volcanic tsunami may occur if Taal Volcano is raised to Alert Level 5.
“Yung volcanic tsunami po, pwede po natin iexpect sa panahon na mag-intesify pa po lalo ‘yung pinapakita ng Taal ngayon sa alert level 5, (A volcanic tsunami is possible if Taal Volcano’s activity further intensifies into Alert Level 5),” Phivolcs Supervising Science Research Specialist Winchelle Sevilla said in a press briefing in Tagaytay City.
The volcanic tsunami may occur in caldera lakes when water is displaced by deformation of the lake floor caused by rising magma, it explained.
Alert Level 4, meaning “hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days,” still remains over Taal Volcano.
A “weak” lava fountain erupted from the active volcano for an hour and a half early Monday.
Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said lava has reached the surface of Taal Volcano but it does not mean that the volcano has entered the “hazardous explosive eruption” phase although this is a possibility.
Malacañang suspended on Monday classes at all levels and work in government offices in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and the Southern Tagalog region. Franz Lewin Embudo and Catherine Valente