As of 5:00 p.m. of January 16, 2020, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) issued an Eruption Update for Taal Volcano.
According to DOST-PHIVOLCS, the activity of Taal Volcano in the last eight hours has been generally characterized by “weak emission of steam-laden plumes 800 meters high from the Main Crater that drifted to the general southwest.” In addition, the Taal Volcano Network has recorded nine (9) discrete weak explosions.
DOST-PHIVOLCS stated that there were no additional fissures that were mapped and reported, yet the existing fissures were in the identified barangays in Batangas Province as indicated in this update: Lemery, Agoncillo, Talisay, and San Nicolas. DOST-PHIVOLCS added that the receding of water in the Taal Lake has been observed in the identified barangays in Batangas Province: Talisay, Laurel, Alitagtag, and Lemery.
Based on the reports from the Philippine Seismic Network, they have recorded a total of 595 volcanic earthquakes in Taal region since 1:00 p.m. of January 12. One hundred seventy-six (176) of these volcanic earthquakes were felt at Intensity I to Intensity V.
Since 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on January 16, 2020, the Philippine Seismic Network recorded 30 volcanic earthquakes and one of these earthquakes was felt at Intensity I. The intense seismic activity may signify continuous magmatic intrusion beneath the Taal edifice, in which this may lead to further eruptive activity.
The Alert Level 4 still continued in effect over Taal Volcano, which means, according to DOST-PHIVOLCS, the hazardous explosive eruption will happen within hours to days. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology strongly restated the total evacuation of Taal volcano island as well as areas as identified in the hazard maps within a 14-km radius from its main crater and along the Pansipit River Valley where fissuring has been observed.
The DOST-PHIVOLCS will continually monitor the eruption.
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