Taal mudflow hits 20 houses in Batangas

SAN PEDRO CITY-A sudden downpour that lasted just about half an hour triggered a mudflow in the Taal lakeshore town of Laurel, Batangas.

While no one was reported hurt, municipal administrator Ciriaco Calinisan said thick mud from the volcanic ash pile overflowed from canals and entered at least 20 houses in Barangay Buso-buso, the village closest to the Taal volcano and hardest hit by the Jan.12 phreatic eruption.

On Monday, the municipal engineering office and the Department of Public Works and Highways began clearing silt “about one foot-thick” off the houses and roads.

The mudflow was triggered by heavy rains on Sunday afternoon.

“How much worse could happen if the rain lasted longer? Our problem now is the onset of the rainy season as roads also turn slippery when they are wet,” Calinisan said.

The Batangas government said about 30 million tons of ash-covered towns and cities when the volcano, driven by steam, erupted in January.

The volcano has since stayed under an alert level 1.

Calinisan said the municipal government is looking for a place where they could safely dump the ash deposit.