Let's hope it won't.

From Google Earth

My city is approximately 50 miles north of Taal volcano. For now, at least, we’re pretty much at a safe distance from the second most active volcano in the Philippines.

The eruption that started last Sunday, January 12, has been all over local and foreign news for days now. Why would it not? — In just a matter of five hours since the initial phreatic eruption, PHILVOCS raised the alert status to Alert Level 4 which means Hazardous Eruption Imminent. Ashfall reached as far as Metro Manila and Pampanga, which resulted in panic-buying (and later a shortage) of face masks.

Filipinos are used to calamities that yearly besiege the country such as typhoon and flooding, but a strong volcanic eruption is a different story. For us living in the island of Luzon, we haven’t had such since Mt. Pinatubo in the early 90s (which I remember vividly).

I stayed home all day last Sunday and with bated breath monitored the events as it unfolds. Ashfall can be seen on windows, cars and on the ground and there was that distinct, choking smell of sulfur in the air.

Many schools and offices were closed the next day, and all flights from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were canceled. 

Residents within the low-lying 14-kilometer “danger zone”, were asked to evacuate to nearby towns. State of Calamity has been declared in the entire province of Cavite and Batangas as ashfall and tremors continue. Tagaytay, a busy town where locals and tourists alike would flock to at this time of the year, was also affected. Many in the affected areas have no supply of water and electricity.

Days after, many desperate residents have ignored the appeals to evacuate and are trying to go back to their homes to salvage what they can. Some returned for their pets and livestock even with the total lockdown.

While the volcano has been eerily quiet for days now, it still remains on Alert Level 4. PHILVOCS expressed concerns on the appearance of ground fissures/cracking in towns of Agoncillo, Talisay, and Lemery, as they said that this is a sign that magma is rising and pushing the ground up. The latest drone pictures show Taal’s lake inside the crater had already vaporized.

Experts say that calmness can be deceptive, and the potential threat should not be ignored. Worst-case scenarios can be anything from tsunami (may happen if part of the volcano collapsed to the lake) to high clouds of hot ash that can pollute water and air. It can also affect livelihood and damage infrastructure.

Bayanihan is a commendable trait of many Filipinos and almost everyone is trying to step-up in any way they can. Many people are helping out with the relief operations for the affected communities by donating cash and goods. Philippine Red Cross is accepting towels, N-95 face masks, bottled waters, blanket, cup noodles, old clothes, etc.

There’s a great possibility that a major seismic event would happen sometime in the future. The Philippines is located right smack in the Pacific Ring of Fire where the worst earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

If worse comes to worst, even if we’re way outside the “danger zone”, heavy ashfall is a potential health risk.

My biggest concern if this ever happens is the senior and little kids at home. My younger nephew has pneumonitis which means that he is more at risk from respiratory illnesses.  The sudden ashfall last Monday, while not as thick as those that were experienced in Batangas, Cavite, and Laguna—already caused enough disruption and panic. Up to now, even if Metro Manila has been cleared from ashfall (due to the change of wind direction) and experts say that the level is good, I continue to doubt our air quality. I still don’t go outside unless I’m wearing my face mask.

I know this is nothing compared to what other people are experiencing right now, which is why I hope that we have already seen the worst. Let’s pray it won’t progress to that destructive eruption we all fear. Our country has enough problems already and we don’t need another calamity to test our resilience as a people.

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