EDITORIAL — When nature stirs

Another volcano is becoming restive in the Philippines after Kanlaon on Negros Island erupted the other day.

Residents around the volcano have been evacuated and many have also been warned against what Phivolcs called Pyroclastic Density Current (PDC).

PDC is a mix volcanic gases, ash, and miniscule pieces of rocks from the volcano. It can destroy structures and even kill. What’s even worse is that it can move very fast.

"Kapag madaanan ka ng PDC, most likely magiging casualty ka kasi mabilis po iyong takbo ng PDC --hundreds of kilometers per hour-- and puwede pong ma-incinerate po ang tao," said PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol on state television PTV.

Clearly this is no joke. People in immediate danger zones must clear it. People who are advised to wear masks must heed it.

When nature stirs it’s important for us not to miss the warnings signs. Not that rumbling earth, volcanic gas, and a mile-high cloud of volcanic material is something any of us would miss.

The only thing predictable about forces of nature is that they are unpredictable. And while disasters like storms can actually be prepared for because we can see it coming from hundreds of kilometers away thanks to satellite technology, when it comes to volcanoes there is still no definite tell when one will blow its top.

We can take for example that minor eruption in Taal Volcano that happened a week ago. Just when people thought things had calmed down in that part of the Philippines, a minor steam-driven eruption created a cloud that rose almost three kilometers into the sky.

This goes without saying that while we should love nature we should also respect and even fear the very force that it is. While even the most violent of criminals may even pause a bit in their bid to cause harm to others, nature doesn’t have second thoughts or give second chances when it is on the rampage.