Taal Volcano Emits Steam-Driven Blasts; Experts Confirm No Connection to Cebu Earthquake
CEBU EARTHQUAKE – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) assured the public that the separate seismic and volcanic events in Batangas and Cebu were unrelated.
PHIVOLCS assured the public that the recent minor eruptions at Taal Volcano are not related to the strong earthquake that rocked Cebu on Tuesday evening. Paolo Reniva, the resident volcanologist at the Taal Volcano Observatory, said two steam-driven or phreatic explosions were recorded early Wednesday.
“[Around] 12:57 a.m. to 1:02 a.m. ‘yun ‘yung unang duration ng pagsabog ng Taal Volcano. Isa siyang phreatic eruption, steam-driven, ibig sabihin ‘yung tubig nagka-contact sa mainit na bato so nag-generate siya ng pagsabog. Nasundan ito ng 2:02 a.m. hanggang 2:15 a.m., so thirteen minutes,” Reniva explained.
Fortunately, these activities did not bring harm to surrounding areas. “Wala namang report pa na nagkaroon ng abo o anong epekto pa, base doon sa pagsabog. Wala namang reported na naapektuhang communities sa paligid ng Taal Volcano,” he added.
Despite the eruptions, PHIVOLCS maintained Alert Level 1 over Taal, signaling low-level unrest. Reniva reminded the public to remain alert and follow safety guidelines. “Sa ngayon, maintain sa alert level 1 status ‘yung Taal Volcano. Ang pinaka-recommendation diyan is walang mananatili ng matagal o manunuluyan sa Taal Volcano island. Another recommendation is for mga LGUs o communities sa paligid ng Taal Lake na maging handa at sumunod lang sa awtoridad, gaya sa PHIVOLCS,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cebu was jolted by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake on Tuesday at 9:59 p.m., its epicenter located northeast of Bogo City. The quake, which was tectonic in nature, was independent of the volcanic unrest in Batangas. “‘Yung sa Cebu, hindi naman related sa volcanic activity ng Taal, unang-unang malayo ‘yung lugar, pangalawa tectonic ‘yung earthquakes, ‘yung sa Taal naman, usually ‘yung mga nare-record natin na earthquakes diyan, volcanic, definitely ‘yung source ng activity ng Taal, dito lang, local lang,” Reniva clarified.
A resident of Talisay, Batangas, shared how the situation unfolded in their area. “Tumawag sakin ‘yung pamangkin ko, ‘Tay pumutok daw ‘yung bulkan ah! Balewala naman ang mga tao, hindi naman namin naramdaman, walang pagyanig. Kami ay safe dito, wala namang problema,” said Eliezar Mendoza.
Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Fe Fernandez likewise confirmed that communities around Taal were not affected by the eruptions.
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