According to Philippines social networks, the famous local Taal volcano began to erupt on the morning of January 12:
JUST IN: Taal Volcano erupts on Sunday afternoon. | Video courtesy of Veronica Mercado pic.twitter.com/uWEYlVJ94j
– The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) January 12, 2020
Tingnan: Pag-aalburuto ng Bulkang Taal sa Batangas (video by: Talisay, Batangas Councilor Pesigan) pic.twitter.com/YWabfEWa7L
– Henry Atuelan DZMM (@ RadyoPatrol44) January 12, 2020
TINGNAN: Pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal sa Batangas (video by: Talisay, Batangas Councilor Pesigan) pic.twitter.com/jAyAgrmdYL
– Henry Atuelan DZMM (@ RadyoPatrol44) January 12, 2020
Wikipedia writes the following about this volcano:
Taal is an active volcano in the Philippines, a popular tourist attraction in the country. Located on the island of Luzon, 50 km south of the capital of the Philippines, Manila. Taal is one of the smallest active volcanoes on Earth.
Earlier eruptions (about 100-500 thousand years ago) and the collapse of the old cone of the volcano formed a caldera, and its flooding – Lake Taal. As a result of subsequent volcanic activity in the middle of the lake, an island of 23 km² was formed – a new volcanic cone. Since 1572, he erupted more than 30 times. A small lake also formed in the new crater.
On January 30, 1911, the most severe Taal volcanic eruption occurred in the 20th century – 1335 people died. In 10 minutes, all living things died at a distance of 10 km. A cloud of ash was seen from a distance of 400 km. This was an “Pelei” type eruption, when the eruption occurs not only from the summit crater, but also from the craters on the slopes of the mountain. The volcano did not throw out lava, but masses of white hot ash and superheated steam.
The eruption of 1965 killed about 200 people[3]. The last eruption took place in 1977].
Now look at the contour map of the volcano:
As you can see, the caldera of the volcano is a lake measuring 10 by 20 kilometers, so Taal is by no means the “smallest volcano”. This is a super volcano. And if it begins to erupt in full force, having knocked out the central islet from the vent like a cork, the Philippines does not expect anything good. In general, given the incredible seismicity of the eruption region, we follow the development of events.