‘High’ probability of Taal eruption remains despite weakened state — Phivolcs
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2020 05:45:30 +0000
THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Thursday that there was still a “high” probability of a “hazardous eruption” by Taal volcano despite its weakened state.
Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum Jr. told a press briefing that although Taal has been emitting less sulfur dioxide, the “risks will always be there”.
Solidum told a press briefing that the eruption may happen, that there may be a strong eruption that would endanger the lives of people. But then again, he said it was also possible that Taal would stop, that it would no longer be a problem.
Phivolcs said that sulfur dioxide emission indicated an upward movement of magma to the surface.
In its 8 a.m. bulletin, Phivolcs reported that Taal was characterized by “weak to moderate emission of white steam-laden plumes 50 to 500 meters high from the main crater that drifted southwest.”
Taal has been spewing 141 tons of sulfur dioxide per day, according to Phivolcs.
“We look at the parameters that we have. Binibigyan namin ng (We give) weight itong mga (to these) monitoring parameters. And we have experts that provide their own opinion on what data will be shown to us,” Solidum said.
“[We have] reference on the historical events that we have and the deposits that some of us Ms. (Mariton) Bornas and Dr. (Perla) Delos Reyes have studied and those of us who also studied Taal,” he said.
“So kinocombine namin yan at tinitingnan namin yan maliban doon sa posibleng pagsabog. Mayroon din kaming tinitingnan anong mga distansya na pwedeng abutin depende sa lakas mg pagsabog (We combine all of those and we look at the possible eruption. We are also looking at how far it will go during an explosion),” he said.
When asked if the “high” probability of eruption would send wrong signals to residents, Solidum said they could only give figures and scientific analyses.
“We tell you the outcome na aming nakikita and that is even in the alert level and the recommended danger zone,” Solidum said. FRANZ LEWIN EMBUDO