Phivolcs raises Taal alert to ‘2,’ warns of eruption 04/09/2011 | 09:17 AM Citing at least four disturbing recent trends indicating an eruption, state volcanologists on Saturday raised the alert level at Taal Volcano in Batangas to “2." The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said an eruption is possible as there are signs of magma rising to the surface. “In view of the above observations at Taal Volcano and the interpretation that magma has been intruding towards the surface, as manifested by (carbon dioxide) being released in Main Crater Lake and the increase in seismic activity, Taal Volcano’s status is now raised to Alert Level 2. With this alert status, the present activities could eventually lead to an eruption," it said in its website. With the raising of the alert level, Phivolcs advised the public that the Main Crater, Daang Kastila Trail and Mt. Tabaro are strictly “off limits." Mt. Tabaro was the site of an eruption in 1965, it noted. Phivolcs pointed out sudden hazardous steam-driven explosions may occur and high concentrations of toxic gases may accumulate in those areas. In raising the alert level, Phivolcs noted “significant changes" as indicated by the following observations: 1. Seismic activity at Taal Volcano continued to worsen, as the number of volcanic earthquakes detected gradually rose and the depths of the plotted quakes are becoming shallow (1 to 4 km). There is also an increase in the number of perceptible quakes. During the past 24 hours, two quakes were felt at the Volcano Island with Intensities ranging from II to III and one of them was accompanied by rumbling sounds. At least 21 volcanic quakes were detected by the seismic network for the past 24 hours. 2. Gas measurements conducted at Taal Main Crater Lake yielded carbon dioxide emission flux of 1,875 tons per day (t/d) in February 2011 and 4,670 t/d during the last week of March 2011. The remarkable increase in carbon dioxide concentration indicates its release from the magma at depth. 3. Ground deformation survey (precise leveling) conducted around the Volcano Island this week showed that volcano edifice is still inflated as compared with February 2011 survey. 4. Steaming activities at the northern and northeast sides of the Main Crater occasionally intensified. Sometimes, intensification of steaming activity is accompanied by audible hissing sounds. Phivolcs also reiterated its warning that breathing air with high concentration of carbon dioxide can be lethal to humans and animals, and can damage vegetation. It likewise reiterated the entire Volcano Island is a Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), and permanent settlement in the island is strictly not recommended. Bulusan, Mayon still at alert level 1 Phivolcs said Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon and Mayon Volcano in Albay remain under Alert Level 1. It said Bulusan had at least two volcanic earthquakes during the past 24 hours. Entry to Bulusan’s 4-km radius PDZ is strictly prohibited, since the area is at risk to sudden steam and ash explosions. “Due to the prevailing wind direction, residents in the northwest and southwest sectors of the volcano are reminded to take precautions against ash-falls," it said. “Furthermore, people living near valleys and river/stream channels should be vigilant against sediment-laden stream flows and lahar in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall," it added. As for Mayon, Phivolcs detected two rockfall-related events during the past 24 hours while steam emission varied from wispy to moderate and drifted towards the southwest direction. Fair crater glow (Intensity II, can be seen by the naked eye) was observed Friday night. “Although this means that no eruption is imminent, it is recommended that the public should not enter the 6-km PDZ due to the continuing threat from sudden small explosions and rockfalls from the upper and middle slopes of the volcano. Active stream/river channels and those perennially identified as lahar prone areas in the southern sector should also be avoided especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall," it said. — LBG, GMA News http://www.philnews.com/headlines/2011/headline_news_0409d.htm
Does this mean that house prices will drop a bit in the surrounding area??? Should take the edge off them and make it a bit more affordable instead of the over inflated average thats happening now! Still my wife will be happy as I've been on about living in tagaytay for ages and it would appear she's been proven correct..................again. Oh well will have to think of somewhere else I'd like to live, bugger.
More to the point Stu, does this mean the houses will still be there if it blows Taal has the potential to be a very large event, I've always thought that living near Taal was a bit dodgy
Very true, very true. if it does go up it'll affect a massive area anyway so much so that I don't really think it'll even matter which way the wind blows if / when it does happen. The ash fall out will be massive I'd of thought. Have to re-think where we'd like to live when we move out there now. i was thinking of Laguna but don't much point in that now either as its not all that far from Taal is it.
Only place I've not felt safe in the Phils was Laguna, we had to get an armed police escort back from Laguna in 2007 when we were threatened with kidnap via a phone call to the spa resort (cheap place) we were in. We were only there for a two day break from Manila with the kids.
Highly unlikely but if the entire Taal lake caldera became active again and went up like it did a million or so years ago when it formed Taal lake in the first place then you might be rethinking where exactly on the planet you'd like to live
Having sailed in the area of Mount St. Helens after the blow out, in May 1980, I can still remember the plume of dust and smoke risinf high in the sky. A massive cloud that blighted earth for may years, and helped change the weather in many countries around the world. At the time, I was just laughing at the fact that our pristine white ship, was as black as the ace of spades on arrival in Victoria early in the morning, and while serving breakfast to my passengers, I was observing two fire boats, portside and starboard, trying to wash the dirt off with huge jets of sea water, before docking... Apparently, some people have been predicting for years that something like that was going to happen, and they are also expecting the whole of the Yellowstone Park to go up.... Here in the Uk, the only thing we can worry about, along those lines, is if Mount Teide in Tenerife blows... Then we would have a bit of a Tsunami ourselves with absolutely horrible consequences....
If Yellowstone or Lake Taal (the big Caldera not the current small volcano) were to go up it would not matter that we lived in Britain the effects would be lethal in terms of weather effects, lost sunlight, total crop failure, dead livestock, it would be to all intents and purposes the end of the (modern) world. Yellowstone is overdue but expected to happen sometime in the next 1000 years, that could be tomorrow or the day after but it will happen sometime in the not too distant future, the USA as a world power will not exist after it happens, the few of the rest of us that survive will be hanging on by the skin of our teeth. The Tsunami you're thinking of Dom would be the result of Cumbre Vieja on La Palma the worry is that if there were another big eruption that the entire flank of the island would slip into the ocean with the resulting Tsunami wiping out the east coast of America, the effects in Europe would be less pronounced but still extremely serious. Given the radiative pattern from that island it is likely the south west coast of England and the South of Ireland would take a beating but there are many steep shorelines there so the effects might not be too bad. Always wondered if the wave would travel up the Irish sea and how it would affect the Welsh coast and so on. The east coast of the US would get flattened though, they were talking about the wave being powerful enough to reach about 20 miles inland. Cumbre Vieja is also a sometime in the next 1000 years event, lets hope neither happen.
Just highlights our fragile existence on our "living planet". Life is so short. Enjoy what you can while you can, be happy and make others happy. It's almost Philippine thinking. Pinoy ako
I do understand what you're saying Keith. Even though I spent nearly all my working life living and working in India, Africa and Asia. I have bigger fears, frustrations and concerns currently living where I do (UK) than in Philippines (well so far anyway)
India, Africa and Asia. and Cumbernauld :shock: Actually I am envious, I am not well travelled at all I would have loved to see India and Africa
I spent over 33 years of my working life as a world traveller. I quit when I married my wife and stayed at home working for the Government (Civil Service). During my 'heavy stints' in India, I lived for 9 months each year for 5 years split between Lucknow and Jamshedpur. Luckily I also managed to spend plenty of time travelling around (usually by rail) Even more luckily I managed to spend time time in nice hotels in Dehli, Calcutta, Bangalore and Mumbai (Bombay) so it wasn't all bad. The first 2 years were the worst. I could bore you for hours.
Not at all Peter, I'm fascinated, seriously! Although I am well aware that living in hotels, no matter how nice they are, is not fun if you have to do it for a long time.
My Father and his Parents all lived in Simla till48 many generations I almost went there last year instead of the Phils
