A major evacuation is underway in the Philippines with the Taal Volcano erupting spewing out “fast moving flows of gas, ash and debris” and the region has been put on high alert
Thousands of people have been told to evacuate after a volcano has erupted in the Philippines this morning with “fast moving flows of gas, ash and debris”.
Huge clouds of ash has risen from the Taal Volcano with the region near Manila put on high alert.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that the clouds have risen to 1,500 metres into the sky.
It said that there should be evacuations due to “hot, fast-moving flows of gas, ash and debris”.
The institute also said that there was a chance of tsunami resulting if there are any future eruptions.
A level three alert was called due to a “magmatic intrusion” that means that there is a chance of further eruptions.
“With Alert Level 3 up over Taal, Phivolcs strongly recommended that the Taal Volcano Island and barangays Bilibinwang and Banyaga in Agoncillo town in Batangas, and barangays Gulod and eastern Bugaan East in Laurel town in Batangas be evacuated,” it said.
“At 0722H PST, Taal Volcano Main Crater generated a short-lived phreatomagmatic burst which was followed by nearly continuous phreatomagmatic activity that generated plumes 1,500 metres (high) accompanied by volcanic earthquake and infrasound signals.”
The area around Taal Volcano Island has been called a danger zone and “entry into it and the high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel must be prohibited”.
All activities on Taal Lake are not being allowed while planes are being told to avoid the area.
“Communities around the Taal Lake shores are advised to remain vigilant, take precautionary measures against possible airborne ash … and calmly prepare for possible evacuation should unrest intensify,” Phivolcs said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in a statement on Saturday that its regional counterpart is monitoring the situation and planning the evacuation.
Taal Volcano’s last eruption displaced thousands of people and badly hit businesses, especially in Batangas and nearby resort town Tagaytay City, it is reported.
