2020 Taal Volcano eruption

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2020 Taal Volcano Eruption

Taal Volcano's January 12, 2020 explosion

Volcano Taal Volcano

Start date January 12, 2020

January 13, 2020

End date (Increased volcanic activity still ongoing)

Type Phreatic/Strombolian

Batangas, Calabarzon, Philippines

Location 14°00′38″N 120°59′52″E

Impact 3 dead, 2 missing (indirect, as of January 29, 2020) [1]

 Map of Batangas highlighting the areas under the 14-kilometer radius

danger zone

An eruption of Taal Volcano in the Philippines began on January 12, 2020. The Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) subsequently issued an Alert Level 4, indicating that "a
hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days."[2][3] It was a phreatic eruption from the
main crater that spewed ashes to Calabarzon, Metro Manila, some parts of Central Luzon,
and Pangasinan in Ilocos Region, resulting in the suspension of classes, work schedules, and
flights.[4][5]
By January 26, 2020, PHIVOLCS observed inconsistent, but decreasing volcanic activity in Taal,
prompting the agency to downgrade its warning to Alert Level 3.

Contents

 1Volcanic activity
o 1.1Eruption
o 1.2Seismic activity
 2Impact and response
o 2.1Local response
o 2.2Economic
o 2.3Health
o 2.4Air traffic
o 2.5Sports
o 2.6International response
 3References
 4External links

Volcanic activity[edit]
This section needs to be updated. Please update this article to reflect recent
events or newly available information. (January 2020)

Eruption[edit]
Phreatic explosion captured at the main crater of Taal Volcano. Video taken from the installed IP camera of
PHIVOLCS monitoring Taal Volcano

The volcano erupted on the afternoon of January 12, 2020, 43 years after its previous eruption in
1977.[6] According to PHIVOLCS director Renato Solidum, a phreatic eruption was first recorded at
around 1 pm Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8).[7] Loud rumbling sounds were also felt and heard
from the volcano island. By 2:30 pm, PHIVOLCS raised the alert status to Alert Level 2 after a
stronger explosion was recorded around 2 pm.[8] It was followed by an even stronger explosion by
around 3 pm that spew an ash column measuring 100 meters, prompting PHIVOLCS to upgrade the
alert status to Alert Level 3 by 4 pm.[9][10] Furthermore, Solidum confirmed that there was a magmatic
intrusion that is likely the cause of the volcano's phreatic eruptions on Sunday morning and
afternoon. PHIVOLCS ordered an evacuation in the towns of Balete, San Nicolas,
and Talisay in Batangas and other towns within the shores of Taal Lake.[11][12] By 7:30 pm,
PHIVOLCS upgraded the alert status to Alert Level 4 after volcanic activities intensified as
"continuous eruption generated a tall 10 to 15 kilometres (6.2 to 9.3 mi) steam-laden tephra column
with frequent volcanic lightning that rained wet ashfall on the general north as far as Quezon
City and Caloocan."[13] Ashfall from the volcano were also experienced in Cavite and Laguna, and
reached as far as Metro Manila and Pampanga.[14][15][16]

Explosion seen from the Tagaytay City viewdeck

On Monday, January 13, PHIVOLCS reported that the volcano emitted a strombolian type of
eruption between 2:48 am to 4:28 am.[17] A lava fountain was recorded at 3:20 am.[18] The Department
of Environment and Natural Resources presented a study that the air quality index of cities in Metro
Manila had worsened; Mandaluyong had the highest amount of inhalable coarse particulate
matter (PM10) with 118, followed by Las Piñas (108) and Taguig (104), all of which were "considered
unhealthy for sensitive groups" with respiratory issues. Meanwhile, the cities with the least amount of
PM10 were San Juan and Malabon, both with "good" amounts of 22 and 28 respectively. These were
followed by "moderate/fair" amounts of PM10 in Pasig (55), Parañaque (62) and Makati (63).[19]
By January 16, European satellites observed that the sulfuric acid which filled the main crater prior to
the eruption had almost completely disappeared.[20] On January 28, the main crater emitted 800
meters of steam according to an 8am bulletin by PHIVOLCS. It was described as “below
instrumental detection” while Alert Level 3 remains raised.[21]
Seismic activity[edit]

Copernicus Sentinel-2 image of Taal Volcano on January 23, showing magmatic activity and the ash-blanketed
towns of Agoncillo and Laurel.

As of Saturday, January 25, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council (NDRRMC) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) have
reported a total of 950 volcano tectonic earthquakes in the Taal area since the eruption, 176 of
which were felt.[22] The strongest were a series of Mw 4.1 magnitude earthquakes originating 6
kilometres (3.7 mi) northwest of Agoncillo, Batangas, which were recorded at least thrice: at
11:56 pm on January 12, 3:11 am on January 13, and 6:35 am later that day.[23] As a result, an
Intensity III ("weak") on the PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale was felt in Tagaytay and an
Intensity II ("slightly felt") was felt in Malabon.[24] Between 11:39 pm on January 13 and 5:50 am the
following day, PHIVOLCS reported a total of 44 earthquakes in the towns
of Calaca, Laurel, Lemery, Mataasnakahoy, San Luis, Taal and Talisay in Batangas, and Alfonso in
Cavite; among the strongest were a magnitude Mw  3.6 in Taal, which was felt at an Intensity III in
Tagaytay,[25] and a magnitude Mw  3.9 originating 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) northeast of Talisay at
2:05 am, measuring an Intensity IV ("moderately strong") in Tagaytay and Intensity II in Malabon and
Pasay.[26]
As a result of these constant earthquakes, numerous fissures or cracks began to appear across
different barangays in the Batangas towns of Agoncillo, Lemery, San Nicolas, and Talisay, the towns
within the 14-kilometer radius danger zone of Taal. A fissure also transected the road connecting
Agoncillo to Laurel.[27] On Wednesday, January 15, PHIVOLCS reported that the water in the main
crater lake on Taal Volcano Island has drained; the lake measured 1.9 kilometers wide and 4 metres
(13 ft) above sea level. Portions of the Pansipit River, had also drained as a result of "the ground
deformation caused by an upward movement of the magma"; it is the same process that caused the
series of earthquakes. PHIVOLCS have also hinted on underwater fissures in Taal Lake where the
water may have drained into.[28]
By January 27 from 5 am until January 28, only 3 volcanic earthquakes were recorded with
magnitudes 1.5 to 2.2, with no felt event. As recorded by the United States Geological Survey, 92
earthquakes were detected in the past 24 hours. Four of them are low frequency events, which are
"caused by cracks resonating as magma and gases move toward the surface". PHIVOLCS also
noted the low frequency events and they recorded 170 volcanic earthquakes in its 8 am bulletin.[29]

Impact and response[edit]

Local response[edit]
On January 13, the provincial board of Batangas declared the province under a state of
calamity following the eruption, ordering the evacuation of residents within a radius of 14 kilometres
(8.7 mi) from the volcano.[30] The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs issued a situation report stating that an estimated number of 459,300 people are within the
14-kilometer danger zone;[31] charity organization Save the Children estimated that 21,000 of those
are children.[32] According to the NDRRMC situational report for January 18, a total of 16,174 families
or 70,413 individuals are taking shelter in 300 evacuation centers.[22] These evacuation centers
consist of over 140 schools across Batangas, Cavite and Laguna, according to the Department of
Education (DepEd).[33] A total of 96,061 people were affected and electricity was cut in seven
municipalities and cities across Batangas and Cavite.[34] The Talisay–Tagaytay Road in Calabarzon
was temporarily closed because of the evacuation of the residents. Heavy ashfall reduced visibility to
near zero in some parts of the Santa Rosa–Tagaytay Road.[35] The Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) also stated that there are 5,000 family food packs and sleeping kits on the
way for distribution to the evacuation centers.[36][37] The DSWD and the Department of Health (DOH)
handed a combined total of ₱4.9 million (US$96,656) worth of assistance to the affected residents in
Calabarzon.[22] On January 15, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla declared the province under a state
of calamity.[38]
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año directed the governors, mayors and local chief executives of Central
Luzon, the National Capital Region and Southern Tagalog to convene their disaster risk
reduction and management councils and instantly activate their incident
management teams, network operations centers and other disaster response teams.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government tasked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to
deploy their disaster incident management task forces, reactionary standby forces and search and
rescue units to the affected areas, while the Bureau of Fire Protection were tasked to assist the PNP
and local government units in the mandatory evacuation of affected residents. Año also urged the
public to donate basic necessities to the victims through the local government
units.[39] The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Philippine Air Force and Philippine
Navy personnel have been dispatched to help the victims of the Taal volcano eruption.[40][41]

President Rodrigo Duterte addresses evacuees in Batangas City, January 14, 2020
Vice President Leni Robredo visits evacuees in Santa Teresita, Batangas, January 14, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte, who was in Davao City during the eruption, ordered Executive
Secretary Salvador Medialdea to suspend classes and government work in Calabarzon, Central
Luzon and Metro Manila. President Duterte flew to Manila on the morning of January 13 and
continued with his scheduled activities there.[42] Duterte visited evacuees in Batangas City on
January 14 and pledged to provide financial assistance worth ₱130 million ($2.6 million) to the
affected residents.[43] He approved the recommendation of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to
prohibit individuals from visiting or inhabiting the Taal island, declaring it a "no man's land".[44] While
addressing evacuees in Batangas City, President Duterte also pushed for the construction of
additional evacuation centers to be built "simultaneously" in disaster-prone areas during his
administration.[45] Concurrently, Vice President Leni Robredo visited the municipalities of Santa
Teresita and San Jose, and the city of Santo Tomas in Batangas, where she helped distribute food
packs and face masks to the affected residents.[46] Robredo stressed the lack of medicines, toilets,
toiletries and sleeping mats being provided to them, other than food and water. She also requested
local officials to prepare an inventory of the damage.[47]
Following the eruption, several members of the Philippine Senate called for more action from
government institutions in assisting the victims. Joel Villanueva urged the Department of Labor and
Employment to issue an advisory that would guide private firms in the affected areas on deciding
whether their operations should continue, considering the health and safety of its employees.
Villanueva called on employers and designated safety officers to assess the safety conditions of the
workplaces.[48] Imee Marcos urged the DOH and the Barangay Health Volunteers to prioritize
providing clinical audits to all evacuees for them to easily access medical health care.[49] Francis
Pangilinan urged the Department of Agriculture to provide long-term funding assistance and
initiate alternative livelihood programs for the affected farmers and farmworkers. Pangilinan also
urged the establishment of refuge areas for the pets of evacuees, as well as rescued stray animals
from the affected areas.[50] Nancy Binay and Risa Hontiveros called on the DOH and DSWD to
include N95 masks, the prescribed mask for cases of volcanic ash, and other protective equipment
in the provision of relief goods.[51][52] Hontiveros also urged the DOH to provide mental
health services, such as access to therapists, to victims who may have been traumatized by the
disaster.[53] On January 16, Cavite-based Senator Bong Revilla participated in the distribution of relief
goods in several towns of his home province, which had been placed under a state of
calamity.[54] Some senators also proposed for additional measures to be implemented in the wake of
the eruption. Senate President Tito Sotto proposed cloud seeding as a method to clear the fallen ash
and debris.[55] Officials from PHIVOLCS and PAGASA, however, rejected the proposal fearing that
cloud seeding may result in acid rain or lahars.[56] Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Philippine
Congress to pass an additional budget of ₱10 billion ($196.4 million) to the nation's existing calamity
budget, as at least ₱35 billion ($687.9 million) is at stake from the damages caused by the
eruption.[57]
In the Philippine House of Representatives, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano (Pateros–Taguig)
directed Leyte 4th district representative Lucy Torres Gomez, chairperson of the House Committee
on Disaster Management, to collaborate with other relevant committees, government agencies and
urban planning experts in composing a short-term and long-term comprehensive rehabilitation plan
for the affected areas.[58] Cavite 4th district representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr. filed House Resolution
643, ordering the House to conduct an investigation on the lack of warning from PHIVOLCS
regarding the imminent eruption. Barzaga stated that PHIVOLCS had issued an Alert Level 1 on
Taal Volcano (indicating a "slight increase in volcanic activity") since March 2019, but he claimed
that it failed to properly disseminate information to the public. The resolution also probes the
presence of permanent settlements in the Taal island, despite the PHIVOLCS having already
declared the island a "permanent danger zone". House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez (Leyte 1st
district), however, defended PHIVOLCS by implying the difficulty in predicting the occurrence of
volcanic eruptions. Romualdez added that the House allotted to PHIVOLCS an additional ₱221.4
million ($4.3 million) in order to reform "the country's monitoring and warning program for volcanic
eruption."[59]
Senator Grace Poe and Albay 2nd district representative Joey Salceda pushed Congress to
immediately pass the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) Bill to create the said department,
an executive department responsible for disaster response and emergency management.[60] Poe
illustrated that the DDR would place the existing NDRRMC under its organizational structure and
create three new bureaus (disaster resiliency, disaster preparation and response, and knowledge
management and dissemination).[61] Salceda criticized the government's current system of disaster
response mobilization that requires a "time consuming and confusing" inter-agency coordination,
adding that the creation of the DDR would resolve these issues by "unifying the different functions"
to ensure the efficiency of disaster relief goods and personnel.[62]
Several provinces have contributed humanitarian aid to the affected residents. The provincial
government of Pampanga has sent aid, totaling in 8,500 food packs, plus teams of medical
personnel, social workers, and search and rescue personnel for deployment.[63] In addition, city
governments across Metro Manila have also contributed aid, ranging from in-kind donations,
toiletries, food packs, N95 masks and others.[64] Other local governments soon pitched help,
including the provincial governments of Quirino and Bulacan, which donated food packs and medical
supplies.[65]. Meanwhile, farmers and traders in the provinces of Benguet and Nueva
Vizcaya donated vegetables to the Taal victims.[66][67] The autonomous regional government
of Bangsamoro also sent ₱2 million-worth of food and non-food items as aid.[68]
The fan base of local pop singer Sarah Geronimo organized a charity public event at Luneta Park in
Manila on January 18 where attendees participate in a flash mob of the viral "Tala" dance
challenge.[69] The proceeds for participating in the event would be forwarded to the Philippine Red
Cross for donations to the eruption victims.[70]
The University of the Philippines will open its own map data of the volcano from 2014 to 2017
through its UP Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry to the public to speed up
the rehabilitation of the affected areas.[71]

Economic[edit]
View of the eruption from an airplane

Demand for N95 masks increased rapidly, with some stores inflating its prices to ₱200 ($3.95) a
piece from the standard ₱25–40 ($0.49–0.79).[72][73] The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
dispatched teams to monitor and observe the movement of retail prices in the market and warned
businesses against raising the prices for higher profit margins.[74] After DTI inspection, Trade
Undersecretary Ruth Castelo commented that some medical establishments were selling 'fake' N95
masks, some of which are not medical-grade, and could still let in large foreign air
particulates. [75] Due to the outcome of surprise inspections and consumer complaints, DTI has
imposed notices of violation to 12 of the 17 stores that were inspected in Bambang, Manila, citing
that these businesses will be charged with administrative and criminal cases for violating the
Consumer Act.[76] Manila Mayor Isko Moreno threatened to revoke the permits of medical supplies
chains in the city involved in the price hike of face masks.[77] Mercury Drug, a major pharmaceutical
chain, pledged to replenish supply for the masks where prices would remain steady and that it would
not hoard the supply.[78][79] The Department of Health imposed price controls on health-related goods,
including face masks, to protect consumers from profiteering and hoarding.[80] The DOH mandates
that the prices of N95 masks, in particular, should range between ₱45–105 ($0.89–2.07).[81]
The Philippine Stock Exchange suspended trading following the eruption on January 13.[82][83]
The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that the damage to crops caused by the eruption are
estimated to be ₱3.06 billion ($60.1 million), covering 2,722 hectares (27.22 km2) that includes 1,967
animals. Fisheries in the Taal Lake, consisting of about 6,000 fish cages to capture a total of 15,033
metric tons of fish, suffered losses of ₱1.6 billion ($31.4 million). Kapeng barako and Coffea
liberica crops, major products of Batangas and Cavite, have damages worth at least ₱360.5
million ($7.08 million) for 8,240 metric tons and 748 hectares (1,850 acres) of land. Pineapple
plantations in the Cavite towns of Amadeo, Silang and General Trias lost 21,079 metric tons of
pineapple worth ₱527.25 million ($10.4 million). Rice crops in 308 hectares (760 acres) of fields
across Calabarzon were lost, amounting to ₱5.6 million ($109,985), while 5,329 metric tons of corn
placed losses at ₱88.9 million ($1.7 million). The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation reassured
around 1,200 farmers and fishermen in Batangas that they are insured of a three-year zero-interest
survival and recovery loan worth ₱25,000 ($494.13) each, to be provided by the Mount Carmel Rural
Bank.[84] The DA plans to distribute materials and mechanisms for crop and livestock intervention
worth ₱160 million ($3.1 million), which includes 5,000 coffea mother plants and 1,000 cocoa
bean seedlings from the Bureau of Plant Industry, to 17 local government units in
Batangas.[85] The Philippine Carabao Center and National Dairy Authority delivered 1 tonne
(15,000,000 gr) of corn silages and 1.5 tonnes (23,000,000 gr) of rice straws, a total of 2.5 tonnes
(39,000,000 gr) of dietary fiber, to Batangas.[86][86]
A brickworks in Biñan, Laguna used the ash spewed from Taal to manufacture hollow blocks and
bricks. Through a combination of ash, sand, cement and discarded plastic waste, around 5,000
bricks are manufactured a day and are used to rebuild houses and other buildings that were
damaged by the eruption. Biñan Mayor Arman Dimaguila formally instructed residents in the city to
help gather ashes and deliver it to the local brickworks.[87]
Smart and Globe offered free calls and internet services and charging stations for those
affected.[88] Water concessionaire Manila Water, in cooperation with Batangas Provincial Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Office, sent a convoy of 30 water tankers to various evacuation
centers in Batangas. The company is also sending an initial 2,000 five-gallon units of bottled
water.[89] Meralco, the country's leading power distributor, assembled solar-powered mobile charging
stations at various evacuation centers across Cavite.[90]
PhilPost announced on January 16 that it would suspend delivery and acceptance of mail in
Batangas towns near the Taal Volcano which falls within the "danger zone".[91]
Health[edit]
The Department of Health advised the public to remain indoors and minimize outdoor
activities.[92] They also advised the public to refrain from purchasing and consuming freshwater
fish from the Taal Lake, such as tilapia and Sardinella tawilis, as these may have been affected by
the sulfur from the eruption.[93]
Agriculture Secretary William Dar clarified that fruits and vegetables filled with ash, including
the Coffea liberica fruits that are homegrown in Batangas and Cavite, are safely consumable upon
cleansing.[94]
Air traffic[edit]
NASA animation of the volcanic plume released by Taal from January 12–13, 2020, using data
from JMA's Himawari 8 satellite. The eruption disrupted several flights to and from the Luzon island.

On January 12, 2020, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) suspended all flights to and
from all terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila following the eruption
due to the various hazardous effects of volcanic ash on flight safety.[95] The MIAA recorded that at
least 516 flights from and to NAIA were suspended, with about 80,000 passengers affected.[96] On
January 13, operations at NAIA resumed partially from 10 am onwards, although many flights still
remained canceled or delayed.[97] A number of international flights bound for NAIA were diverted to
either Clark International Airport in Angeles, Mactan–Cebu International Airport, Haneda
Airport in Tokyo, Hong Kong International Airport, or Antonio B. Won Pat International
Airport in Guam.[98] By January 14, 604 flights were canceled according to the NDRRMC. However,
by January 15, 537 of those flights had resumed operations.[22]
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines advised the Luzon International Premiere Airport
Development Corporation to suspend flights at Clark International Airport as reports indicate that ash
could reach the area.[99] On January 13, only ten flights were reported to have been canceled, while
nine flights were delayed.[100]
At the Mactan–Cebu International Airport (MCIA), only 25 domestic flights (all bound for NAIA) and
one international flight were canceled, all of which were on January 14. However, the MCIA had to
accommodate five international flights bound for NAIA that were diverted. The GMR–Megawide
Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), the operator of the MCIA, requested that all diverted flights
should be accommodated on a "first-come, first-serve basis" depending on the availability of aircraft
parking bays. Aside from hotel bookings, passengers of the diverted flights were given small food
packs. MCIA provided passengers with free bus services for inter-airport transfers and city hotel
transfers. Retail stores and food concessionaires at the airport terminals immediately restocked their
supply and offered discounts for passengers, available from January 12 to 14.[101]
Sports[edit]
Collegiate leagues, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP)[102] and the National
Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) postponed games to be held in Metro Manila on January 13,
2020 due to ash fall. The junior basketball and junior football ties were to be held by the UAAP and
volleyball games for the NCAA.[103] The AFC Champions League match between Ceres–
Negros and Shan United scheduled for January 14, 2020 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila
was threatened to be postponed due to ash fall the day before but match officials decided that game
should push through.[104]
International response[edit]
The Philippine government, while it said that it would accept any international aid, has stated that it
will not actively seek for foreign aid believing that it still has the capability to deal with the Taal
volcano eruption.[105]
The China Coast Guard donated 600 pieces of N95 masks, food packs, and other relief goods to
evacuees in Batangas through the Philippine Coast Guard.[106]
The United States Agency for International Development and its Volcano Disaster Assistance
Program, through the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, is providing thermographic cameras and
remote technical support to assist the Philippine government in monitoring Taal's volcanic
activity.[107] South Korea has also pledged US$200,000 in humanitarian aid through the Philippine
Red Cross.[108] The Singapore Red Cross on their part relayed about S$67,000-worth of humanitarian
aid to support the operations of their Philippine counterpart.[109] The Emirates Red Crescent also sent
a delegation to the Philippines to assist on the relief operations.[110]
American comedian Dave Chappelle, who visited Manila during the eruption, donated ₱1
million ($19,671) to the relief efforts for the eruption victims through the Rayomar Outreach
Foundation.[111]