Phivolcs: Volcanic tsunami possible if Taal alert level raised to 5

People take photos of a phreatic explosion from the Taal volcano as seen from the town of Tagaytay in Cavite province, southwest of Manila, on January 12, 2020. (Photo by Bullit MARQUEZ / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — A volcanic tsunami is possible if the Taal Volcano alert is raised to 5, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned Monday.

“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,” Phivolcs Supervising Science Research Specialist Winchelle Sevilla said during the Taal Volcano interagency coordination meeting in Tagaytay.

(A volcanic tsunami is possible if Taal’s activity further intensifies to level 5.)

Phivolcs earlier raised Alert Level 4 over Taal Volcano which means a hazardous explosion may occur within hours or days.

Sevilla recommended residents near Taal’s lakeshore to evacuate amid the volcano’s heightened activity.

“Kung may mga kababayan po tayong nasa lakeshore area, posible po sigurong i-evacuate po muna natin. Kasi posible pong magkaroon ng volcanic tsunami kung sakali pong mag-intesify yung aktibidad (ng Taal),” Sevilla said.

(If there are residents near the lakeshore area, they should be evacuated since it’s possible for a volcanic tsunami to occur should Taal’s activities further heighten.)

A volcanic tsunami may occur in caldera lakes when water is displaced by deformation of the lake floor caused by rising magma, Phivolcs explained in its website.