Forced Evacuations Near Philippines Volcano

Taal Volcano, Lake Taal
IrishWeatherOnline.com: Forced Evacuations Near Philippines Volcano
Residents in Batangas in the Philippines are being urged to evacuate as Volcano Taal looks set to erupt.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that 21 volcanic earthquakes were recorded around Taal volcano in Batangas province during the past 24 hours. Water temperature at the main crater lake has also slightly increased from 29 degrees Celsius to 30.1 degrees Celsius.

The Philippine authorities will forcibly evacuate residents who refuse to leave the danger zone of the restive Taal volcano, senior government officials warned today.

Taal Volcano is a complex volcano on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Historical eruptions are concentrated on Volcano Island, an island near the middle of Lake Taal. The lake partially fills Taal Caldera, which was formed by prehistoric very powerful eruptions.

The volcano had several violent eruptions in the past causing loss of life in the island and the populated areas surrounding the lake, with the death toll estimated at around 5,000 to 6,000. Because of its proximity to populated areas and its eruptive history, the volcano was designated a Decade Volcano, worthy of close study to prevent future natural disasters. It is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines and part of the Pacific ring of fire.