Rumbling volcano shuts down Philippine capital
An eruption of Taal Volcano in the Philippines began on January 12, 2020. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) subsequently issued an Alert Level 4, indicating that “a hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days.” It was a phreatic eruption from the main crater that spewed ashes to Calabarzon, Metro Manila, and some parts of Central Luzon, resulting in the suspension of classes, work schedules and flights.
The volcano erupted on the afternoon of January 12, 2020, 43 years after its previous eruption in 1977. According to PHIVOLCS director Renato Solidum, a phreatic eruption was first recorded at around 1 pm Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8). Loud rumbling sounds were also felt and heard from the volcano island. By 2:30 pm, PHIVOLCS raised the alert status to Alert Level 2 after a stronger explosion was recorded around 2 pm.[8] It was followed by an even stronger explosion by around 3 pm that spew an ash column measuring 100 meters, prompting PHIVOLCS to upgrade the alert status to Alert Level 3 by 4 pm. Furthermore, Solidum also confirmed that there was a magmatic intrusion that is likely the cause of the volcano’s phreatic eruptions on Sunday morning and afternoon. PHIVOLCS ordered an evacuation in the towns of Balete, San Nicolas and Talisay in Batangas and other towns within the shores of Taal Lake. By 7:30 pm, PHIVOLCS upgraded the alert status to Alert Level 4 after volcanic activities intensified as “continuous eruption generated a tall 10 to 15 kilometres (6.2 to 9.3 mi) steam-laden tephra column with frequent volcanic lightning that rained wet ashfall on the general north as far as Quezon City and Caloocan.” Ashfall from the volcano were also experienced in Cavite and Laguna and also reached as far as Metro Manila and Clark International Airport.
On Monday, January 13, PHIVOLCS reported that the volcano emitted a Strombolian type of eruption between 2:48 am to 4:28 am.[17] A lava fountain was recorded at 3:20 am. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources presented a study that the air quality index of cities in Metro Manila had worsened; Mandaluyong had the highest amount of inhalable coarse particles (PM10) with 118, followed by Las Piñas (108) and Taguig (104), all of which were “considered unhealthy for sensitive groups” with respiratory issues. Meanwhile, the cities with the least amount of PM10 were San Juan and Malabon, both with “good” amounts of 22 and 28 respectively. These were followed by “moderate/fair” amounts of PM10 in Pasig (55), Parañaque (62) and Makati (63).
As of Tuesday, January 14, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) have reported a total of 286 volcano tectonic earthquakes in the Taal area since the eruption.[20] The strongest were a series of magnitude 4.1 Mw earthquakes originating 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) northwest of Agoncillo, Batangas, which were recorded at least thrice: at 11:56 pm on January 12, 3:11 am on January 13, and 6:35 am later that day. As a result, an Intensity III (“weak”) on the PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale was felt in Tagaytay and an Intensity II (“slightly felt”) was felt in Malabon. Between 11:39 pm on January 13 and 5:50 am the following day, PHIVOLCS reported a total of 44 earthquakes in the towns of Calaca, Laurel, Lemery, Mataasnakahoy, San Luis, Taal and Talisay in Batangas, and in Alfonso, Cavite; among the strongest were a magnitude 3.6 Mw in Taal, which was felt at an Intensity III in Tagaytay, and a magnitude 3.9 Mw originating 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) northeast of Talisay at 2:05 am, measuring an Intensity IV (“moderately strong”) in Tagaytay and Intensity II in Malabon and Pasay. As a result of these constant earthquakes, numerous fissures or cracks began to appear across different barangays in the Batangas towns of Agoncillo, Lemery, San Nicolas and Talisay, towns within the 14-kilometer radius of Taal. A fissure also transected the road connecting Agoncillo to Laurel.
