The Taal Volcano in the province of Batangas in Luzon, is placed under Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest) following a phreatomagmatic eruption that generated a plume of 1 km high at 3:16 pm (UCT +8) on 1 July. This has been followed by four small eruptions of up to 200 metres high in the evening.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) recommends immediate evacuation within a permanent danger zone due to hazards of eruption and volcanic tsunami.
On 2 July, the Batangas Provincial Government reports 3.523 families (14.495 individuals) evacuated from the municipalities of Agoncillo and Laurel.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council provides immediate relief to the evacuated residents, while ensuring that health protocols against Covid-19 virus transmission are in place. Early warning information is constantly disseminated through Municipal local government units.
DG ECHO and its partner organisations continue to monitor the situation.
In the past 24-hour period, the Taal Volcano Network recorded 17 volcanic earthquakes, including one volcanic tremor event having a duration of 45 minutes, 16 low frequency volcanic earthquakes, and low-level background tremor that has persisted since 08 April 2021. High levels of volcanic sulfur dioxide or SO2 gas emissions and steam-rich plumes that rose as much as 2,500 meters high that drifted southwest, southeast, and north-northwest was generated from the Taal Main Crater. Alert Level 3 (Magmatic Unrest) now prevails over Taal Volcano. At Alert Level 3, magma extruding from the Main Crater could drive explosive eruption. (Govt. of the Philippines, 5 Jul 2021)
Over the past 24 hours, Taal volcano registered high levels of volcanic sulfur dioxide emissions and steam-rich plumes that rose up to 1,500 metres. More than 3,000 people have been evacuated in 20 evacuation centres and 5,782 people have been affected in 63 Barangays of Batangas Province (Calabarzon Region) as reported by the Department of Social Welfare and Department (DSWD-DROMIC). The alert level of the volcano stands at 3. (ECHO, 7 Jul 2021)