6,585 people displaced by Taal as volcanic fluids seen surging Tuesday
A TOTAL of 1,902 families composed of 6,585 individuals have been displaced by the continuing threat of Taal Volcano’s eruption, the national disaster management agency reported on Tuesday.
Alert level 3 for the volcano is still up, indicating that magma is being released from the main crater which could prompt an explosive eruption, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Phivolcs also reported the release of “hot volcanic liquids” from the main crater between 5-6 a.m. Tuesday, generating plumes that rose to 3,000 meters above the crater.
The affected residents are from eight towns in Batangas, namely: Taal, Lemery, Agoncillo, Balete, Cuenca, Talisay, Tanauan, and Laurel. The highest number of affected families are from Laurel at 832, Agoncillo with 597, and Tanauan with 203.
Of the total displaced, 1,172 families are staying in 24 evacuation centers while the rest are staying with relatives or friends, based on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s report.
Additional coronavirus vaccines were sent to Batangas Monday for the inoculation of senior citizens and persons with comorbidities in evacuation sites.
The Batangas information office has been reporting the arrival of relief goods from both the national government and the private sector.
