Philippines’ Taal Volcano threat lowered as thousands return to ash-covered homes
- Eruption on January 12 blanketed towns around the volcanoes with thick ash
- Taal’s unrest displaced more than 376,000 people from towns within 14km radius danger zone
Philippine authorities on Sunday lowered the alert level at Taal Volcano, two weeks after it began spewing ash, steam and rocks, a move that will allow many of the more than 376,000 displaced villagers to return home.
A popular tourist destination just south of Manila because of its picturesque setting in the middle of a lake, Taal erupted on January 12. It caused no known deaths but delivered an early crisis this year for one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations.
“Taal volcano’s condition in the two weeks … has generally declined into less frequent volcanic earthquake activity, decelerated ground deformation … and weak steam and gas emissions at the main crater,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.
The government’s agency lowered the alert level from 4 to 3, which means there’s a “decreased tendency toward a hazardous eruption.” The highest level-5 alert indicates a major and much more dangerous eruption.
The agency also reduced to half the danger zone where residents have to be evacuated, from the 14km (8.7-mile) radius around the volcano. Taal had last erupted 43 years ago.
“We have to be careful of Taal because of the danger it may still bring, so at the lower level, there should be heightened preparedness. People should brace for rapid evacuation,” Renato Solidum, the head of the institute, said in a televised news conference.
