The local government of Agoncillo, Batangas, immediately evacuated residents living near Taal Volcano following a minor phreatomagmatic eruption on Thursday, October 8.
Agoncillo Mayor Atty. Cinderella Valenton-Reyes led the emergency response, in coordination with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Public Information Office (PIO), Municipal Engineering Office (MEO), and Rural Health Unit (RHU).
Some evacuees are staying at the PAGCOR Socio-Civic Center, while others have sought temporary shelter in the homes of their relatives.
The evacuation came after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) recorded a minor phreatomagmatic eruption at Taal Volcano’s main crater at 6:06 p.m. on Thursday. The event lasted five minutes and generated a dark gray plume that rose approximately 4,000 meters above the crater.
In its 24-hour monitoring report released Friday, October 9, PHIVOLCS recorded five volcanic earthquakes, including one volcanic tremor lasting 38 minutes. Sulfur dioxide emissions reached 3,071 metric tons per day on October 8, while short-term swelling of Taal Volcano Island was also observed.
The agency warned that thin ashfall could affect the southwestern lakeshore towns of Agoncillo, Lemery, San Nicolas, and Taal, as well as nearby areas.
Alert Level 1 remains in effect over Taal Volcano, indicating low-level volcanic unrest.
The Agoncillo local government continues to monitor the situation and urged residents to remain alert and follow advisories from authorities.
