PHILIPPINE Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Director Renato Solidum Jr. on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, said a phreatic eruption at Taal Volcano was likely because of the continuous tremors.
In the past 24 hours, Phivolcs recorded 69 tremors with a duration of one to five minutes each. Alert level 1 remained hoisted over the volcano.
"Sa Taal Volcano, nananatiling nasa Alert Level 1 ang alerto. Ibig sabihin, abnormal. Maraming mga pagyanig. 'Di po ito nararamdaman ng mga tao. Sixty-nine tremors ang naitala sa nakalipas na 24 oras. Kasabay na rin ang pag-init ng main crater lake at pagiging acidic nito," Solidum said in a television interview.
"Ang sanhi ng paglindol ay ang patuloy na pagpapakulo ng tubig sa ilalim ng Taal Volcano Island. At dahil may gas, may acidic component sa tubig. May posibilidad na magkaroon ng phreatic eruption o steam-driven," he added.
He said there is still a possibility that the volcano will calm down, but residents of the Taal Volcano Island are in danger.
In its 8 a.m. bulletin, Phivolcs warned of sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall and lethal accumulations of expulsions of volcanic gas.
The agency said entry into Taal Volcano Island, especially in the vicinity of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, must remain strictly prohibited.
Authorities implemented on Tuesday, February 16, forced evacuation from the Taal Volcano Island.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the residents were brought to an evacuation center in Talisay, Batangas.
Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste assured assistance to the affected residents.
He said some of them have been insisting on going back to their residences to check on their houses and livelihood.
Leviste urged the affected residents to abide by precautionary measures being implemented by the government for their own safety. (SunStar Philippines)