Taal not likely to simmer down yet

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council vigorously recommends for the volcano island to be permanently closed to human settlement following the massive damage caused by volcano’s phreatic eruption last Sunday

There are no visible signs that Taal Volcano will simmer down anytime soon.

This, after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported observing a “steady steam emission and infrequent weak explosions” in the volcano’s main crater since Thursday.

In its bulletin released Friday, dark gray ash plumes were seen being emitted while fissures, or large cracks, were also discovered on some parts of Taal Volcano Island — indicators of the presence of a large volume of magma underneath.

Cracks on roadways, houses, and other buildings in the municipalities of Lemery, Agoncillo, Talisay, and San

Nicolas in Batangas also “widened by a few centimeters,” according to Phivolcs.

These municipalities, the authorities said, remain under total lockdown and mandatory evacuations are still in effect.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council vigorously recommends for the volcano island to be permanently closed to human settlement following the massive damage caused by volcano’s phreatic eruption last Sunday.

NDRRMC Executive Director, Underseretary Ricardo Jalad, and the military conducted an aerial inspection of the volcano Thursday morning and observed a massive devastation of vegetation, houses, and other structures on the volcano island.

“It is not advisable. It should be off limits because of the danger,” Jalad told reporters.

However, access to the locked down areas may be allowed to first responders should the need arise.

“Taal island is within the permanent danger zone. But it will depend on the arrangement of protocols to have access to the island,” he added.

AL PADILLA @tribunephl_al Ash and abandonment no more Veterinarian volunteers are seen checking horses here, some of the animals left behind when Taal Volcano erupted. As part of the ongoing efforts to help save affected animals, these doctors are offering their services for free.

AL PADILLA @tribunephl_al TAAL spewed far less ash and smoke on Friday than days earlier. Geologists warn this could prove deceptive and kept Alert Level 4 raised over a large swath around the volcano.

BOB DUNGO JR. @tribunephl_bob ENVIRONMENTALISTS help clean up the city’s infamous Baseco Compound along Manila Bay and check on the progress of the construction of toilets that benefit hundreds of informal urban dwellers in the area.