Taal Volcano

Philippine authorities have urged a "total evacuation" of nearly a million

people near the capital Manila, after a volcano spewed ash up to nine miles
(14 kilometers) into the air Sunday prompting warnings of a possible
"explosive eruption."
The Taal Volcano, about 37 miles (60 kilometers) south of the capital Manila
on the island of Luzon, is one of the country’s most active. Images from the
scene on Monday showed streams of lava beginning to gush out the volcanic
vent, the sky above still thick and dark with ash and steam.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has
raised the alert level to four, meaning an "explosive eruption" could happen
in the coming hours or days. Its highest alert level is five, indicating an
eruption is taking place.
As of January 12 (Sunday), Taal
Volcano spewed light ashes.
People start capturing each
moment. Since they think, it
depicts a spectacular scenery.
Lightning flashes as Taal Volcano erupts Sunday Jan. 12, 2020, in Tagaytay, Cavite province,
outside Manila, Philippines.

Lightning, one the oldest observed natural phenomenon on earth, is a giant

spark of electricity in the atmosphere between clouds, the air or the ground.
According to the National Severe Storms Laboratory, lightning can occur
between opposite charges within a thunderstorm cloud or between opposite
charges a cloud and on the ground.
In order to get lightning during a volcanic eruption, there needs to be a thick
plume of volcanic ash that allows a large charge separation between two
masses.
Heat and movement within a volcano is the first source of particle charging,
but ash particles usually acquire a charge by friction from the violent
movements of being blasted out during a volcanic eruption.
As of January 13 (Monday), Phivolcs observed lava fountains from Taal
Volcano from 2:49 am to 4:28 am, but the alert status remained at Level 4.

At 3:20 am, ashfall was reported in the areas of Batangas, Tagaytay, Laguna,
Cavite, Bulacan, Rizal, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Marikina, Parañaque, Pasig,
Quezon City, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Manila, Makati City, and Taguig City.

Larger particles of rock fragments from the volcano were also reported in the
areas of Tanauan and Talisay in Batangas, Nuvali and Sta Rosa in Laguna,
and Tagaytay City.

The first confirmed casualty due to a road crash in Laguna was reported early
Monday morning. Police said there was "zero visibility" at the time because
of the ashfall.

In its 4 pm update, Phivolcs said “new lateral vents” opened up on the

volcano’s northern side where short 500-meter lava fountains had been
shooting out from. The agency further said a total of 144 volcanic
earthquakes had been recorded in the Taal region since January 12, and
warned that it may lead to “further eruptive activity.”
Batangas was placed under a state of calamity.
As of January 14 (Tuesday), Phivolcs said surface activity of the Taal
Volcano's main crater slightly eased, and fewer emissions were seen from
Taal Volcano as of 1 pm. However, the agency also said there was still
continuous magmatic activity and frequent volcanic earthquakes, which
indicated that a "hazardous" eruption was still a possibility. The alert status
remained at Level 4.
Batangas authorities approved a lockdown of Talisay, which meant nobody
was allowed to enter the municipality to return to their homes until the area is
declared out of danger.
In its 1 pm update, Phivolcs said lava fountains reached 800 meters high.
New cracks on the ground were also spotted in the Batangas municipalities of
Lemery, Agoncillo, Laurel, Talisay, and San Nicolas. 335 volcanic
earthquakes were recorded.
As of January 15 (Wednesday), The volcano’s ongoing eruption generated
dark gray columns of ash and hot magma, towering to an estimated 1,000
meters. In its 5 pm update, Phivolcs said portions of Pansipit River had dried
up. A total of 520 volcanic earthquakes had been recorded since January 12.
New cracks were also spotted on the ground in Batangas, particularly the
areas of Sinisian, Mahabang Dahilig, Dayapan, Palanas, Sangalang,
Poblacion, Mataas na Bayan, and Sambal Ibaba in Lemery; Pansipit and
Bilibinwang in Agoncillo; and Poblacion 1, Poblacion 2, Poblacion 3, and
Poblacion 5 in San Nicolas.
Authorities put the municipalities of Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Talisay, and
Taal under complete lockdown, and imposed a partial lockdown on Lemery.
At least 3 Taal evacuees in Batangas died due to cardiac arrest.
Cavite, Batangas’ neighboring province, was placed under a state of calamity.
The alert status remained at Level 4.
As of January 16 (Thursday), Taal Volcano showed “weak” emission but
“intense” tremors persisted as magma was still rising. Phivolcs said 9 discrete
weak explosions” were recorded from 9 am to 5 pm. The agency also said
they were looking at the possibility of a lull for a considerable period. The
total number of earthquakes since January 12 rose to 595 as of 5 pm, but no
additional cracks on the ground were reported. Alert status remained at Level
Four.

As of January 17 (Friday), that 'steady steam emission' has been observed

from Taal Volcano, while existing fissures or cracks in parts of Batangas
have widened by a few centimeters. 632 volcanic earthquakes were recorded
in Taal region as of 4:00 AM. Of which, 174 were felt, ranging from
Magnitude 1.2 — 4.1 and Intensity of I — V.

As of January 18 (Saturday), 666 volcanic earthquakes were plotted in Taal

region as of 8:00 AM. Of which, 174 were felt, ranging from Magnitude 1.2 -
4.1 and Intensity of I - V. The Taal volcano near the Philippine capital had
been on alert level 4 since the eruption began last Sunday.

Despite "seeming lull," officials said Friday the volcano remained life
threatening and advised displaced villagers not to return to the danger zone.
As of January 19 (Sunday), One week since Taal Volcano started erupting
in the province of Batangas, Alert Level 4 remains raised, which means a
hazardous eruption could still occur "within hours to days."

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on

Sunday, January 19, that "intense" volcanic earthquakes continue – an
indication that magma is still rising within the volcano. (READ: Taal
Volcano's 2020 eruption: What we know so far)

Phivolcs is using two networks to monitor the volcanic earthquakes – the

Philippine Seismic Network which covers the whole country, and the Taal
Volcano Network, which includes small earthquakes undetected by the
former.

In its 6 pm update on Sunday, Phivolcs said the Philippine Seismic Network

has plotted 701 volcanic earthquakes since 1 pm of January 12. Of these, 176
were felt with intensities ranging from Intensity I to V.

Just from 5 am to 4 pm on Sunday, there were 10 volcanic earthquakes

plotted, including one felt event with Intensity I.

Meanwhile, also from 5 am to 4 pm on Sunday, the Taal Volcano Network

recorded 244 volcanic earthquakes, including 3 low-frequency earthquakes.
Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum Jr earlier explained that in low-frequency
earthquakes, vibrations are not prolonged.
"Such intense seismic activity likely signifies continuous magmatic intrusion
beneath the Taal edifice, which may lead to further eruptive activity,"
Phivolcs said.

Aside from volcanic earthquakes, there continues to be "weak" emission from

Taal's main crater.

"Since 8 am this morning, Taal Volcano's activity has been generally

characterized by weak emission of steam-laden plumes 300 to 500 meters
high from the main crater that drifted to the general southwest," Phivolcs
said.

Notably, though, sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission was measured at an average

of 4,353 tons per day at 5 pm on Sunday, from the previous average of 1,442
tons per day that Phivolcs cited in its 8 am bulletin.

Phivolcs states on its website that SO2 is "a major gas component of
magma." According to the United States Geological Survey, SO2 is "released
from a volcano when magma is relatively near the surface."