Lightning strikes beside the ash cloud as Taal Volcano erupts on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Tagaytay, Cavite province, outside Manila, Philippines. A tiny volcano near the Philippine capital that draws many tourists for its picturesque setting in a lake belched steam, ash, and rocks in a huge plume Sunday, prompting thousands of residents to flee and officials to temporarily suspend flights. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
MANILA, Philippines — While Taal Volcano appeared to be slackening Tuesday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned residents against feeling a “false sense of security” and returning to their homes.
Phivolcs stressed residents should not even think of going back to their places as its director, Rene Solidum, explained there is more to Taal’s internal activities than what is being seen by people on the surface.
“Gusto ko rin i-emphasize ang difference ng nakikita natin visually sa activity ng volcano versus what is happening beneath. Pwedeng masabi ninyo mas mahina ang nangyayari at minsan nagiging false sense of security, kaya pumupunta ‘yung ibang tao at bumabalik,” Solidum said in a press briefing.
(I want to emphasize the difference between what we visually see on the volcano’s activities and what is happening beneath. One may say that it has weakened, turning it into a false sense of security that’s why some residents still return to their homes.)
Solidum said the reported fissures or cracks in areas around Taal are signs of magma continuing to rise that could lead to the volcano’s major eruption.
“Dahil sa pag-akyat ng magma, nagkakaroon ng bitak ngayon,” Solidum explained. “Ibig sabihin, may pressure na nagdudulot ng paglindol at pagbitak. Ibig sabihin, umaakyat ‘yung volume ng magma na pwede pang mag-supply dun sa eruption ng Taal.”
(Due to the rising of magma, we are now having incidents of fissures. It means there is pressure causing the earthquakes and cracks. It means that the volume of magma is rising, which could supply Taal’s eruption.)
“Yan po ang sitwasyon kaya talagang ang aming recommendation, strictly follow na sundin ‘yung recommendation na walang tao sa Taal Volcano island plus high-risk areas within 14 km [radius] of Taal Volcano,” he added.
(That is the situation that’s why our recommendation is to strictly follow the recommendation that no one should be in Taal Volcano island as well as high-risk areas and within the 14-kilometer radius of Taal Volcano.)
After Taal Volcano’s phreatic eruption or steam-driven episode on January 12, thousands were forced to evacuate their homes.
Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 4, which means that a hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours or days.