Lava fountains now emanating from Taal Volcano’s northern flank

Taal Volcano unleashes fumes of smoke on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, as seen in Taysan, Batangas. (Photo by ANGELLIZZA RAMIREZ)

MANILA, Philippines — New lateral vents have opened up on the northern flank of Taal Volcano where short lava fountains emanate, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Monday afternoon.

READ: Taal Volcano had magmatic eruption early Monday – Phivolcs

READ: 4 lava fountains spout from Mayon on Sunday

In its 4 p.m. update, Phivolcs said it observed new lateral vents on the northern flank of Taal Volcano where short 500-meter lava fountains are spewed from.

READ: ERuption update for #TaalVolcano 13 January 2020, 04:00PM pic.twitter.com/iEqqRCT28q

— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) January 13, 2020

“That means there are vents lined up on the northern flank of the volcano and it causes short lava fountains,” Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said Filipino in a press briefing.

“So now, the eruption is not only seen inside the crater but along the side of the volcano as well,” he added.

Phivolcs, in its update, also said that after a brief waning of activity following lava fountaining early Monday, Taal Volcano’s eruption “resumed immediately with weak sporadic lava fountaining and hydrovolcanic activity at the main crater.

According to Philvocs, this generated steam-laden plumes approximately 2 kilometers tall.

Phivolcs said that heavy ashfall from the ongoing eruptions of the volcano had fallen southwest of the volcano island in the towns of Cuenca, Lemery, and Taal in Batangas.

“Fine ashfall can cause irritation and breathing problems especially among the elderly and children,” Phivolcs said.

“Long-term exposure may be harmful to respiratory health. In addition, areas of ashfall have also experienced sulfurous smell which can also cause irritation,” it added.

Solidum advised residents in affected areas to use N95-grade face masks, wet cloth or towel when going outdoors to avoid inhalation of ash.

He reminded motorists to be careful when driving as ash could cause poor visibility and, when wet, could make roads slippery.

144 volcanic quakes

The Philippine Seismic Network, Phivolcs said, has recorded a total of 144 volcanic earthquakes in areas around Taal Volcano since 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12.

Of the number, 44 quakes were felt with intensities ranging from Intensity I to V in Tagaytay City in Cavite and the towns of Alitagtag, Lemery, Santo Tomas, and Talisay in Batangas.

“Such intense seismic activity probably signifies continuous magma intrusion beneath the Taal edifice, which may lead to further eruptive activity,” Phivolcs said.

Phivolcs strongly reiterated that total evacuation of the volcano island and high-risk areas within the 14-kilometer radius from Taal’s main crater must be enforced.

“Population in areas in the southwest are advised to guard against the effects of heavy and prolonged ashfall,” it said.

“Civil aviation authorities must advise aircraft to avoid airspace around Taal Volcano as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from the eruption column pose hazards to aircraft,” it added.

Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 4, which means “hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days.”

/atm