Manila, Philippines — The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) indicated that more than 3,700 people have evacuated their homes after Taal Volcano’s unrest since Saturday.
NDRRMC said that as of 10 a.m. of March 29, Tuesday, 3,771 individuals (1,142 families) have taken shelter in evacuation centers.
The agency also said that in the past 24 hours of monitoring (from 5AM of March 28 to 5AM of March 29) of Phivolcs, the parameters exhibited: eight volcanic earthquakes, including one volcanic tremor event that was five minutes long, and three phreatomagmatic bursts.
Taal Volcano’s status was raised to Alert Level 3 after a phreatomagmatic eruption, which is an explosion that resulted from the interaction of magma and water.
According to Phivolcs’ bulletin post, under Alert Level 3, the following are not allowed:
- Entry into Taal Volcano Island (Permanent Danger Zone or PDZ) and high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel
- All activities on Taal Lake
- Flying any aircraft close to the volcano
Possible hazards that can occur are the ff:
- sudden explosive eruption
- pyroclastic density currents or base surge
- volcanic tsunami
- ashfall
- accumulation of lethal volcanic gas