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A volcano south of the Philippine capital Manila has spewed a giant ash plume accompanied by rumbling sounds and tremors, prompting authorities to raise the alert level and order the evacuation of about 8000 residents.
The Philippine airport authority also suspended flights at Manila’s international airport.
“Flight operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have been temporarily suspended due to the volcanic ash from the eruption of Taal Volcano,” the Manila International Airport Authority tweeted.
Passengers have been advised to coordinate with their respective airlines for details on flight schedules.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level at the rumbling Taal Volcano to “level 3” on Sunday, indicating “magmatic unrest” that could lead to a “hazardous eruption in weeks”. The highest alert is level 5, hoisted when a magmatic eruption is underway.
In an advisory, the Institute said it was strongly recommending that people evacuate the area around the Taal Volcano, which is on an island in the middle of Taal Lake, and two nearby “high-risk” municipalities in Batangas province as it warned of “possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami”.
The country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council told reporters that an evacuation of the area has begun, led by local government officials.
The volcano spewed ash that generated a 1 kilometer-high plume that later triggered ash falls in nearby communities, the Institute said.
About 8000 residents were at risk and needed to be immediately evacuated, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, citing the Institute’s data and recommendations.
A view from Rosario, Batangas.
Slowmo from Taal Volcano ?? pic.twitter.com/6vSGOtivpS— LA ? (@lvlynnltd68) January 12, 2020
The head of the Institute, Renato Solidum, advised communities around Taal lake to also take precautionary measures and be vigilant of possible lake water disturbances related to the volcanic activity.
Solidum said the entire island should be strictly off-limits to all residents.
The heavy ashfall also reached the province of Cavite, prompting the provincial government to suspend classes on Monday and urge residents to stay indoors.
The phreatic explosion and ash plume were visible from the nearby city of Tagaytay, a popular spot for viewing the volcano and where tourists flock during weekends.
Source: Reuters
