30 Photos That Show The Terrifying Power Of The Taal Volcano Which Just Erupted In The Philippines

[G_j]

https://www.boredpanda.com/taal-volcano-eruption-photos-philippines/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=BPFacebook

As Australia is being devastated by uncontrollable bushfires, the Philippines was just hit by another natural disaster. Taal Volcano located on the big island of Luzon erupted January 12, 2020, reportedly sending ash and steam up to 6-9 miles into the sky. With the alert level of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) escalating from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 4, it is now believed that "a hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days."

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology ordered an evacuation in the towns of Balete, San Nicolas and Talisay in Batangas and other towns within the shores of Taal Lake. As people watched in awe and terror, some managed to snap pictures of the erupting volcano. The images show the smoke and ash rising from the mouth of Taal, reaching high up in the sky. Due to this, the Manila International Airport Authority was forced to suspend all flights to and from all terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

https://www.boredpanda.com/taal-volcano-eruption-photos-philippines/

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

1. Great collection...

Those wedding photos are so unique they will be cherished a long time.

[Dennis Donovan]

2. They're still at level 4 (big event about to happen) and have evacuated 500,000 people

It's only 40 mi south of Manila...

[babylonsister]

5. Manila is the most crowded city in the world...

https://www.businessinsider.com/manila-worlds-most-crowded-city-2016-8

Not only is the city the densest in the world — at 46,000 people per square mile, twice the density of New York City — but it's located on the Ring of Fire, a series of volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean that inundates Manila with earthquakes and typhoons.

[Dennis Donovan]

8. When it blows, the best outcome is for a strong east wind to blow it into the S China Sea

Unfortunately, prevailing winds this time of year blow to the NE:

http://www.fao.org/3/ac061e/AC061E16.htm
The prevailing wind systems in the Philippines are as follows:

Northeast (NE) monsoon - from November to February

Southwest (SW) monsoon - from July to September

Trade winds - winds in the tropics. They generally come from the east. The trade winds prevail during the rest of the year whenever NE monsoons are weak.

Map (oriented North - Taal volcano circled in red - Manila almost due north):



Praying for the best.

On edit: adding a time-lapse gif of the ash:

[dalton99a]

14. +1. There are people living in cemeteries:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/25/world/asia/manila-north-cemetery-philippines.html
Hard Life Among the Dead in the Philippines

[Javaman]

7. Philippines warns of 'explosive eruption' after Taal Volcano spews ash near Manila

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/12/asia/taal-volcano-eruption-philippines-trnd/index.html

Manila, Philippines (CNN)Philippine authorities have urged a "total evacuation" of nearly a million people near the capital Manila, after a volcano spewed ash up to nine miles (14 kilometers) into the air Sunday prompting warnings of a possible "explosive eruption."

The Taal Volcano, about 37 miles (60 kilometers) south of the capital Manila on the island of Luzon, is one of the country's most active. Images from the scene on Monday showed streams of lava beginning to gush out the volcanic vent, the sky above still thick and dark with ash and steam.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has raised the alert level to four, meaning an "explosive eruption" could happen in the coming hours or days. Its highest alert level is five, indicating an eruption is taking place.

>snip<

There are two zones of concern around the volcano, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Around 459,000 people reside within a danger zone with a 14-kilometer (8.7 miles) radius around the volcano, according to a map by the agency, while more than 930,000 people live in a wider 17-kilometer (10.5 miles) danger zone.

more words and photos a link...

[G_j]

3. some video

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/thousands-flee-volcano-erupts-philippines-manilla-airport-closed-n1114171

[UpInArms]

4. Wow!

Some stunning photography ....



and

[2naSalit]

6. Amazing!

I think that if I were within five hundred miles of that thing, I'd be headed for some other part of the planet.

[tblue37]

10. No flights. You could take ground transportation to the far end of the Philippines, but

that's about it, unless ships are leaving.

[2naSalit]

11. I was thinking about that...

it would have to be boat/ship to the nearest open airport.

[ewagner]

9. Wow!!!!

The sculpting of the ash cloud by the wind at various altitudes makes for a beautiful and terrifying sight!!

[Auggie]

12. Faces! Holy crap!

[Wounded Bear]

13. That aerial photo looks like a caldera...

Is this a super volcano?

[IcyPeas]

15. pineapples covered in ash

[Pacifist Patriot]

16. Astounding photographs!