Phivolcs: Prepare for emergency evacuation in case Taal activity escalates

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) advised yesterday local officials and residents living near the restive Taal volcano in Batangas to prepare for emergency evacuation in case activity of the volcano escalates.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum, however, said the agency maintains Alert level 2 at Taal despite increased seismic activity in the past 24 hours.

“Local government and residents should be ready in case activity escalates,” Solidum told The STAR.

“We are maintaining Alert level 2,” Solidum said. “What are observed are for Alert level 2 and not 3 yet.”

Twenty-one volcanic earthquakes were detected around the volcano in the last 24 hours, higher than the 10 recorded the other day.

One of these events which occurred at 10:06 a.m. Sunday was felt by residents at Intensity 2 in Barangay Calauit.

Phivolcs also noted increase in water temperature at the Main Crater lake from 29.8 percent to 30.1 percent.

Solidum continued to remind the public to avoid the Main Crater, Daang Kastila trail and Mt. Tabaro, which was the 1965 eruption site.

Malacañang may be forced to adopt a “forced evacuation” of sorts once residents near the Taal volcano in Batangas would still refuse to vacate the area, amid persistent reports from volcanologists of continuous quakes in the area.

“At a certain point, we will forcibly evacuate the residents near Taal volcano. Ngayon po kasi ay may alert level na. We are now requesting the families to evacuate the premises,” said Edwin Lacierda, spokesman of President Aquino.   – With Delon Porcalla