Taal Volcano spews lava fountains

Taal Volcano in Batangas spewed lava fountains around 3 a.m. on Monday, according to a report by Jonathan Andal on GMA News' Unang Balita.

LOOK: Taal Volcano, sunod-sunod na ang pagbuga ng lava mula bandang 3:30 am @gmanews pic.twitter.com/j3ai1vk6PN

— Jonathan Andal (@JonathanAndal_) January 12, 2020

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said this can be considered as low-level eruption.

The lava fountains were recorded at 2:44 a.m., at 3:20 a.m., and at 3:42 a.m. and lasted for around a minute at a time.

Loud sounds were also heard as the volcano spewed lava, and lightning also occurred.

Earthquakes were felt twice at the view deck in Tagaytay City, one at 2:44 a.m. and the second one, stronger this time, at 4:56 a.m.

The latter quake rocked vehicles parked near the view deck.

PHIVOLCS said in its 3:50 a.m. bulletin that ashfall had fallen on the following areas:

• Tanauan, Batangas
• Escala, Tagaytay
• Sta. Rosa, Laguna
• Dasmariñas, Bacoor and Silang, Cavite
• Malolos, San Jose del Monte, Meycauayan, Bulacan
• Antipolo, Rizal
• Muntinlupa
• Las Piñas 
• Marikina
• Parañaque
• Pasig
• Quezon City
• Mandaluyong
• San Juan
• Manila
• Makati 
• Taguig

It added that large rock fragments (lapilli) measuring 2 to 64 mm in diameter fell on Tanauan and Talisay in Batangas, Tagaytay City in Cavite and Nuvali and Sta. Rosa in Laguna.

Tagaytay City

Tagaytay City in Cavite had continuous ash fall, and with the rains which fell until midnight, the roads were covered with thick mud.

The city became almost a ghost town before dawn on Monday as many tourists already left on Sunday following Taal Volcano's eruption.

Power was out in the city.

Traffic was heavy from Tagaytay City to Sta. Rosa, Laguna and the South Luzon Expressway on Sunday.

Travel time from Tagaytay City to the municipality beside it, Silang, took six hours due to reduced visibility and muddy and slippery roads.

Visibility was also almost zero at the South Luzon Expressway.

Meanwhile, some evacuees from the town of Talisay which is right beside the volcano walked for hours all the way to Tagaytay.

A mall in Tagaytay opened its compound to allow evacuees to take shelter temporarily.

A hospital in Tagaytay which is running on generator at the moment said it will transfer patients to hospitals in Laguna. 

Thousands of residents evacuated on Sunday after the volcano spewed a massive cloud of ash into the sky.

Many motorists got off their vehicles from time to time to wipe their windshields or pour water on it to remove the ash.

Some motorcycles were fully covered in ash.

Others accepted the offer of an auto repair shop in Silang to wash their vehicles for free. Shop personnel said many motorists handed money to them for the service but they declined to accept payment.

Meanwhile, transportation remained difficult as only a few public utility vehicles were on the road.

A group of college students who went on a staycation in Tagaytay planned to just walk after having a hard time finding transportation. 

They said their parents who were supposed to pick them up were stranded in Silang.

Good thing a tricycle arrived which they immediately hailed.

Residents who spent the night at their workplaces due to the ashfall on Sunday hit the streets as soon as dawn came on Monday to go home.

Classes, flights, work

Classes were canceled in several areas due to the ash fall.

Many flights were also canceled as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport remains closed.

Government work in Metro Manila, the Calabarzon Region, and Region 3 for Monday, January 13, 2020 has been suspended due to the ash hfall from Taal Volcano's phreatic explosion on Sunday. —KG, GMA News