Towns near Taal Volcano are being evacuated and residents have been taken to safer ground. The Philippines’ volcano monitoring authority PHIVOLCS-DOST has increased the alert status of Taal from Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest) to Alert Level 4 (hazardous eruption imminent).
In its latest bulletin, PHIVOLCS-DOST said: “This serves as notice for the raising of the alert status of Taal from Alert Level 3 9Magmatic unrest) to Alert Level 4 (hazardous eruption imminent).
“As of 5.30pm PST eruptive activity at Taal Volcano Main Crater intensified as continuous eruption generated a 10-15 kilmometre steam-laden tephra column with frequent volcanic lightning that rained we ashfall on the general north as far as Quezon City.
Volcanic tremor was recorded continuously since 11am and two volcanic earthquakes of magnitudes M2.5 and M3.9 were felt at Intensity III in Tagaytay City and Alittagtag, Batangas were recorded at 6.15pm and 6.22pm PST, respectively.”
READ MORE: Taal volcano eruption: Where is Taal volcano? Evacuations latest
Earlier this morning the status of Taal had been upgraded from Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest) before just hours later being upgraded to Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest) at 4pm local time (8am GMT) following the eruption of ash from the volcano.
Resident are being urged to evacuate “due to the possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami”.
Mr Soldium added: “The volcano is inside a bigger crater or basin or bowl, which is why people would have to evacuate horizontally and away from the crater.
“There is water that would be hindering the rapid evacuation and that is why people need to get out of the island as soon as possible.”
Sharing pictures of the giant ash cloud, erupting from Taal, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology tweeted: “Ongoing phreatic explosion at the Main Crater of Taal Volcano.
“Photos taken from installed IP camera monitoring the activity of Taal Volcano.”
Since 1 pm Sunday (5am GMT), the volcano has manifested “increased steaming activity in at least five spots inside the main crater”.
The Philippines is situated on the seismic hotspot known as the Ring of Fire which encircles the Pacific Ocean.
Taal Volcano’s seismic network has manifested moderate to high level of seismic activity since March 28 last year.
PHIVOLC said in a bulletin issued at 2.30 pm local time: “Some of these earthquakes were felt with intensity ranging from Intensity I (Scarcely Perceptible) to Intensity III (Weak Shaking) in the barangays of Calauit, Balete, Sitio Tibag, Pira-Piraso, and Buco, Talisay, Alas-as and Pulangbato, San Nicolas, Batangas. Often, these felt earthquakes are accompanied by rumbling sounds.”
Footage taken on the Taal volcano erupting shows a 3,280 foot (1km) ash column shooting up into the air.
Ash is reportedly fall across the southwest sector of Taal.
Residents in Tagaytay City, Laguna, Cavite and Muntinlupa City have also also reported ash fall.
Philippines airport authorities say flights into the nation’s capital at Manila airport are “on hold”.
The active volcano is a popular tourist spot because of it uniqueness as having an island within a lake, which is on an island within a lake on an island.
Vulcan Point in the Philippines is the world’s largest island within a lake (Main Crater Lake) that is situated on an island (Volcano Island also known as Taal Island) located in a lake (Lake Taal) within an island.
More to follow…
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