5 weak eruptions recorded in Taal on Wednesday

FIVE WEAK eruptions were recorded at the Taal Volcano main crater on Wednesday, emitting magma and sending out plumes of up to 300 meters high, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The phreatomagmatic events, or when magma erupts through water, all occurred in the morning with the first at 5:18 a.m. The second one was at 8:47 a.m., and two took place between 9-9:30. The fifth was at 11:56 a.m. Phivolcs maintains an alert level 3 over Taal Volcano, meaning magma is being released from the main crater which could prompt an explosive eruption. Meanwhile, Batangas Rep. Hermilando I. Mandanas said emergency response operations are being carried out smoothly following lessons from the volcano’s major eruption in Jan. 2020. At the Palace briefing Wednesday, he said measures are also being observed to avoid a potential outbreak of coronavirus transmissions at the evacuation sites. “We have isolation units… the family tents from DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), Red Cross… and the province as well,” he said in Filipino. He acknowledged that social distancing is a challenge, especially as evacuees understandably feel “tense” over the situation. He said this is why it is important to continue with the ongoing vaccination at the temporary shelters. “That is why the answer there is the vaccine. If there are transmissionss, the vaccine will help in minimizing severe cases.” Over 6,500 families have been displaced by the threat from Taal Volcano, of which more than 1,170 are staying in 24 evacuation centers.