A 4.2-Magnitude Earthquake Occurs in Philippine Volcano Eruption Area... Displaced Residents Sleep Outdoors Overnight

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] On the 19th, a magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred near Taal Volcano, which erupted on the 12th about 65 km south of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Displaced residents startled by the strong tremors reportedly spent the night outdoors.

According to major foreign news agencies including AP on the 20th, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that at 8:59 PM local time on the 19th, a magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck 4 km southwest of Mabini town in Batangas province, about 50 km south of Taal Volcano.

Later that day, at 10:02 PM, a magnitude 4.0 earthquake occurred. There have been no reported damages or aftershocks from these events.

However, some evacuees who fled due to the volcanic eruption were startled by the strong tremors and rushed outside, spending the night outdoors. Local media reported that at a high school in Bauan, Batangas province, where about 3,000 evacuees are residing, people ran out of the building upon feeling the strong tremors and were unable to sleep properly throughout the night.

The institute announced that while Taal Volcano remains in a quiescent state, intermittent weak eruptions continue. It is continuously emitting volcanic ash and steam, rising 500 to 1,000 meters into the air. In the past 24 hours, 673 minor volcanic earthquakes and 23 earthquakes ranging from magnitude 1.2 to 3.8 were observed, the institute stated on the 20th.

It also explained that an average of 4,353 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO₂), a toxic substance, is being released daily.

Accordingly, the institute maintained the hazard alert at level 4 out of 5. This means there is a possibility of a dangerous eruption occurring within hours or days.

Taal Volcano previously caused powerful eruptions in 1911 and 1965, which claimed 1,300 and 200 lives respectively.

Currently, about 162,000 residents within a 14 km radius of the volcano, where evacuation orders have been issued, have taken refuge in 475 evacuation centers.

Due to the crowded conditions in confined spaces, many patients have reportedly emerged.

Although no direct casualties from the volcanic eruption have been reported yet, the Department of Agriculture has estimated damages of approximately 3.17 billion pesos (about 72.1 billion KRW) as volcanic ash covered coffee and pineapple farms, and fish living in lakes around the volcano died en masse.