A Philippine volcano was trembling and spewing out fountains of lava again today as thousands fled their homes amid warnings of a bigger and more dangerous eruption which could leave them stranded for months.
Plumes of steam were pouring out of the volcano today after villages in the Philippines were blanketed in ash when the volcano exploded into life on Sunday.
Nearly 40,000 people have evacuated the area so far but thousands more are refusing to leave, defying the warnings of disaster agencies who say a further ‘explosive eruption’ could be imminent.
Experts say Taal’s eruptions can last for several months, potentially leaving hundreds of thousands of people in limbo for months with their homes under threat from the volcano.
Dozens of volcanic tremors today have added to the region’s woes and were were felt as far as in Tagaytay city, a popular tourist destination 20 miles away.
Philippine Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon said urged people to obey evacuation orders, saying the possibility of an explosive eruption was ‘high’.
‘We urge people living in the danger zone to evacuate and follow evacuation orders issued by the authorities, he said.
‘Bring your animals and livestock to evacuation centres if you must. The Philippine Red Cross is working round the clock to assess and meet the needs of affected communities.’
Taal is one of the most active volcanoes in a nation hit periodically by eruptions and earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’ – a zone of intense seismic activity.
The Taal eruption has been putting on a stunning and terrifying display, with lightning crackling through its ash cloud in a poorly understood phenomenon that has been attributed to static electricity.
Renato Solidum, head of the Philippines’ seismological agency, said Taal’s previous eruptions have lasted months so it was impossible to predict an end to the current activity.
However, he said the alert warning of a potentially catastrophic ‘explosive eruption’ may remain in place for weeks, depending on developments. Source: Update: Philippines Volcano
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