LGUs ready for possible evacuation if Taal, Kanlaon become more active –NDRRMC

The local government units (LGUs) that will be affected if Taal Volcano and Kanlaon Volcano become more active are prepared should residents need to be evacuated, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Tuesday.

In a public briefing, NDRRMC Deputy Spokesperson Diego Mariano explained that since both of these active volcanoes were still under Alert Level 1 with low-levels of unrest, there was still no need for evacuations.

Authorities were only making sure that people did not enter the permanent danger zones.

“Ready po ang ating resources at ang ating mga evacuation centers dahil itong bulkan naman ito ay hindi naman ito bago. Nakahanda naman ang mga LGUs pagdating sa kung ano man ang mangyari o sakaling mag-worsen ang situation dito sa dalawang ibang bulkan,” said Mariano.

(Our resources and our evacuation centers are ready because these situations are not new. The LGUs are ready for whatever happens or if the situation at the two volcanoes worsens.)

Twenty-eight volcanic earthquakes, including seven volcanic tremors which lasted two minutes were recorded at Taal Volcano in Batangas as of 5 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

Taal also emitted 5,024 tonnes of sulfur dioxide and moderate 900-meter tall plumes which drifted northeast.

Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island, meanwhile, had three volcanic quakes and generated moderate 200-meter tall plumes drifting southeast and northeast.

In contrast to these volcanoes, Mayon Volcano in Albay was exhibiting “intensified unrest” or magmatic unrest and was now under Alert Level 3.

PHIVOLCS, however, stressed on Monday that the recent activities observed in Mayon Volcano, Taal Volcano, and Kanlaon Volcano were isolated and had nothing to do with each other. — DVM, GMA Integrated News