By CHITO CHAVEZ • ALEXANDRIA SAN AJUAN
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año ordered Monday an end to visiting hours to towns and cities located within the 14-kilometer danger zone from the main crater of the Taal Volcano.
Año insisted the strict implementation of total lockdown and mandatory evacuation in high-risk areas to spare the public from any harm as state volcanologists noted a re-charge or re-supply of magma underneath the restive volcano, which could lead to a dangerous explosive eruption.
The DILG chief explained these measures are strictly being undertaken for the welfare of the public stressing “we don’t know when that (Taal Volcano) will erupt.”
To recall, local government officials imposed window hours allowing residents to go back to their homes in areas where the lockdown was ordered to check their belongings.
The affected residents took advantage of the window hours to retrieve their valuables and important documents.
Local residents also tried to bring the pets and other animals they left behind since they were forcibly evacuated on January 12 when Taal Volcano first erupted.
But Año thumbed down the window hour stressing there is no “logic” to it after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has warned several times that Taal Volcano may erupt anytime, within “hours or days.”
RESUPPLY OF MAGMA
Phivolcs officer-in-charge Renato Solidum Jr. said the movement of magma or molten rocks beneath Taal edifice continued to trigger volcanic quakes within the volcano island.
“Mayroon tayong nakikitang re-charge o re-supply ng magma na galing sa ilalim papunta doon sa volcano island.
Kung umabot ito sa ibabaw, posibleng magdulot ito ng malakas na pagsabog,” Solidum said on Monday.
In a press conference, Solidum said that 23 volcanic tremors were plotted by the Philippine Seismic Network (PSN) from Sunday morning to Monday morning, registered at magnitudes 1.2 to 3.8 with one felt event at Intensity I.
This brings the total number of volcanic earthquakes recorded to 714 since Taal’s eruption afternoon of January 12, and 176 of these are registered at magnitudes 1.2 to 4.1 and were felt at Intensities I to V.
Meanwhile, the Taal Volcano Network, which can record small earthquakes undetectable by the PSN, recorded 673 volcanic tremblors including 12 low-frequency earthquakes.
“Such intense seismic activity likely signifies continuous magmatic intrusion beneath the Taal edifice, which may lead to further eruptive activity,” the state volcanology agency said.
Solidum pointed out that the activity on the surface crater of Taal has been maintained with “steady steam emission and infrequent weak explosions” observed in the past 24 hours.
The Phivolcs chief added that this activity has generated 500 to 1,000 meters tall and dispersed ash southwest of the main crater.
The emission of sulfur dioxide, which is a major gas component of magma, also remains high and was measured at an average of 4,353 tonnes a day.
These indicators, Solidum emphasized, still suggest that a possible hazardous eruption may occur within hours to days as Alert Level 4 remains over Taal Volcano.
In a separate press briefing in Malacanang, Solidum said that they are still not recommending to lower the danger level of Taal as activities beneath the volcano is still ongoing.
“Hindi namin pwedeng ibaba ang alert level dahil sa kasalukuyang pamamaga ng bulkan at sa patuloy na pag-akyat ng magma. Hindi naman puwedeng sabihin na hindi na mangyayari ‘yung posibleng pagsabog dahil nandyan pa rin ‘yung threat,” he explained.
Solidum cited historical eruptions of Taal and mentioned that it is normal for the volcano to display an apparent “waning” of activities in the surface crater before its explosive eruption.
Phivolcs strongly reiterates total evacuation of Taal Volcano Island and high-risk areas within the 14-kilometer radius from the main crater and along the Pansipit River Valley where fissuring has been observed.
Meanwhile, based on the wind forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), should the eruption plume remain below three kilometers, ash will be drifted to west and southwest of the main crater.
Should it rise between three to five kilometers, ash is expected to fall over parts of Cavite province; and could reach Metro Manila, Laguna, and parts of Rizal and Northern Quezon if a major eruption occurs and the ash cloud exceeds five kilometers.
