MANILA, Philippines—No ash emissions were recorded in Taal Volcano since Wednesday morning but a hazardous eruption remains imminent, the state volcanologists reported.
In its 4 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said since 5:00 a.m. Wednesday, no ash emissions were recorded based on its seismic records and visual observations.
TAAL VOLCANO ADVISORY
22 JANUARY 2020
04:00 PM #TaalVolcano #TaalEruption2020 pic.twitter.com/XVk74PrZ7x
— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) January 22, 2020
However, Phivolcs said that ash blanketing Taal Volcano Island has been “remobilized and transported” by strong low-level winds, affecting the towns of Lemery and Agoncillo in Batangas.
“Reports from several airlines state the presence of remobilized volcanic ash at a height of approximately 5800m (19000ft),” Phivolcs said.
An Alert Level 4 remains over Taal Volcano more than a week since its initial steam-driven eruption. An alert level 4 means that hazardous explosive eruption is still possible within hours to days.
Phivolcs strongly reiterated total evacuation of Taal Volcano Island and high-risk areas identified in the hazard maps within the 14-km radius from Taal’s main crater and along the Pansipit River Valley where fissuring has been observed.
Based on the lastest wind forecast by the state weather agency, eruption plume below three-kilometer may drift to the municipalities west and southwest of the main crater, however, if a major eruption occurs during the day and the eruption column exceeds five-kilometer, ash will also be drifted over the eastern part of Laguna and some parts of Rizal and Marinduque.
Residents around the volcano are advised to guard against the effects of heavy and prolonged ashfall.
Civil aviation authorities are also asked to advise pilots to avoid the airspace around Taal Volcano as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from the eruption column pose hazards to aircraft.