By Christine Fabro
A total of 74 volcanic earthquakes, including 61 volcanic tremor events having durations of one to 25 minutes were observed at Taal Volcano in the past 24-hour period, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-Phivolcs) said on Sunday (July 11).
Taal Volcano Network also measured an average of 6,488 tonnes of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission per day, as of Saturday (July 10).
“High levels of volcanic SO2 gas emissions and steam-rich plumes that rose one thousand (1,000) meters before drifting west-northwest and southwest were generated from the Taal Main Crater,” it said in the latest bulletin.
Meanwhile, two more evacuation facilities will be built in Batangas to shelter the residents who will be affected by volcanic eruptions and other disasters.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario led the groundbreaking ceremony of these two evacuation centers on Friday (July 9).
“What we are doing now is actually part of the preparation for the long-term. Kasi hindi naman ang bulkan ay paminsan-minsan lang [sumabog] or isa o dalawa sa isang taon,” he said during the ceremony.
Del Rosario assured the construction quality of these evacuation centers with the hope of providing shelter to evacuees for at least 50 years.
These facilities will rise in Brgy. San Juan, Alitagtag and Brgy. Calayaan, Sta. Teresita in Batangas.
“This is a very important project, especially for Batangas, because the [Taal volcano] will always be like that. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Kaya itong evacuation center ay kailangang maitayo because it will be used as long as it (Taal) still stands,” del Rosario said during the groundbreaking ceremony. – jlo
