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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 335 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Big bang signs: Cracks, quakes By Rio N. Araja
F
ISSURES were observed across a road connecting towns in Batangas province amid Taal Volcano’s seismic activities, an indication of a hazardous explosive eruption in hours or days to come, state seismologists said Tuesday.
“The intense seismic activity coupled likely signifies continuous magma inwith fissuring on the caldera region trusion beneath the Taal edifice, which
may lead to further eruptive activity,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in a bulletin. The cracks were seen in Lemery town’s barangays Sinisian, Mahabang Dahilig, Palanas, Sangalang and Poblacion; Agoncillo’s Barangay Pansipit; Talisay’s barangays Poblacion 1, Poblacion 2, Poblacion 3 and Poblacion 5, and San Nicolas’ Barangay Poblacion.
A crack was also spotted along the interconnecting road of Agoncillo and Laurel. Some of them led right through houses, disrupting their floors and foundations and forcing residents to seek safer ground. PHIVOLCS director Renato Solidum said the intrusion of magma into the Taal edifice had produced the fissures.
TEMPESTUOUS TAAL. Lakeshore
residents of the nearby vehement volcano walk past wooden boats Monday after its initial eruption, with lava and broad columns of ash illuminated by lightning spewed from the active volcano (inset), grounding hundreds of flights in nearby Metro Manila as authorities warned of a possible ‘explosive eruption.’ AFP
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Du30 assures funds enough to help victims
40,000 people bear brunt of Taal eruption
By MJ Blancaflor, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta
By Francisco Tuyay, MJ Blancaflor and Macon Ramos-Araneta
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has assured the public that the government has enough funds and resources to help those affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano. The President on Monday also said all government resources were brought
MORE than 40,000 people or about 9,500 families living near Taal Volcano in Batangas and the nearby province of Cavite who depend on fishing, farming and livestock for a living are among the hardest hit by the renewed volcanic activity that began Sunday. The evacuees, 36,937 from the province of Batangas and 3,815 from Tagaytay City and Alfonso town in Cavite, are housed in 198 different shelters.
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Sanctions up vs. hoarding, overpricing
STRAINED SIGHT. Evacuees from towns affected by Taal’s eruption queue up at an evacuation center in Tanauan, Batangas on Tuesday. Authorities said the volcano could spew out lava and ash for weeks, leaving thousands in limbo after fleeing their homes in fear of a massive eruption. AFP
Ashfall destroys P578m in coffee, other cash crops, livestock and infra
By MJ Blancaflor MALACAÑANG on Tuesday appealed to those affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano to cooperate with the authorities and to use masks to protect themselves from hazardous ashfall. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said those in Batangas and other nearby areas classified by authorities as Next page
By Othel V. Campos, Rio N. Araja and Joel E. Zurbano THE damage from Taal Volcano’s eruption has reached P577.59 million in crops and livestock, with coffee growers hardest hit at P74 million in damages, the Department of Agricul-
ture estimated Tuesday. The department’s regional office in CALABARZON said the calamity affected 2,772 hectares of farm lands planted to coffee, rice, corn, cacao, banana and high-value crops and 1,967 head of livestock. On the other hand, the Bureau of Soils Next page
SURREALISTIC SCENE. Motorists passing by a cracked road-bridge in barangay Sinisian in Lemery, Batangas overlooking the Taal Volcano, with (inset) another household scarred with ugly cracks.
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COLLATERAL DAMAGE
Abandoned animals, pets
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