15,473 residents affected by Taal Volcano’s unrest

MANILA, Philippines — At least 4,363 families or 15,473 residents of 121 barangays in Batangas continue to be affected by Taal Volcano’s unrest, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The NDRRMC said 1,570 families or 5,620 persons remain in 23 evacuation centers.

Another 9,853 affected individuals representing 2,793 families are outside the temporary shelters.

The NDRRMC said it is continuously monitoring the situation inside and outside the evacuation centers in coordination with local disaster risk reduction and management councils.

The agency had earlier said around 500,000 residents within the 14-kilometer radius of the volcano would be displaced in the event of an explosive eruption.

The Taal Volcano Network said it has recorded 171 earthquakes, including 157 tremor events lasting for one to 97 minutes, since July 7.

In its Taal Volcano bulletin yesterday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said high levels of volcanic sulfur dioxide emissions and steam-rich plumes that rose 1,500 meters from the main crater were observed on Monday.

Sulfur dioxide emission averaged 6,134 tons per day.

The volcano remains under Alert Level 3.

Phivolcs said this means magma extruding from the main crater could drive an explosive eruption.

It warned the public that the entire Taal Volcano Island is a permanent danger zone.

Entry into the island and high-risk barangays in Agoncillo and Laurel towns is prohibited due to the risks of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami should strong eruptions occur.

All activities in Taal Lake are prohibited.

Communities around the lake are advised to remain vigilant, take precautionary measures against airborne ash and vog or volcanic smog and calmly prepare for possible evacuation should unrest intensify.