Taal Volcano Eruption
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Page | 1 Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA) Philippines: Taal Volcano Eruption DREF n° MDRPH043 Glide n° VO-2021-000071-PHL Expected timeframe: 1 month Date of issue: 4 July 2021 Expected end date: 3 August 2021 Category allocated to the of the disaster or crisis: Yellow DREF allocated: CHF 54,331 Total number of people Number of people to be 53,697 1,000 families (5,000 people) affected: assisted: Provinces affected: Batangas (CALABARZON) Provinces/Regions targeted: Batangas (CALABARZON) Host National Society presence: The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is the nation’s largest humanitarian organization and operates through its 104 chapters covering all administrative districts and major cities in the country. The PRC has more than 1,700 staff at national headquarter and chapter levels, and approximately one million volunteers and supporters, of whom some 500,000 are active volunteers. At the chapter level, a programme called Red Cross 143 is established that sees volunteers trained, equipped and in place at the community (barangay) level - enhancing the overall capacity of the National Society to prepare for and respond to disaster situations. Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners actively involved in the operation: The PRC will lead the overall response operation. This action is supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and eight National Societies are also present in the Philippines: American Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross, Finnish Red Cross, German Red Cross, Japanese Red Cross Society, Netherlands Red Cross, Spanish Red Cross and Qatar Red Crescent Society. Other partner organizations actively involved in the operation: Government coordination is led by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Government ministries and agencies involved include the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Local Government Units (LGU), the Philippine Armed Forces, and the Philippine National Police Force. I/NGOs and UN agencies are monitoring the situation through the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) supported by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). A. Situation analysis Description of the disaster On 1 July 2021, the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised an Alert Level from 2 to 3 (out of 5) after increasing activity of Taal Volcano, which is located on the island of Luzon in Batangas, CALABARZON (Region IV-A). An Alert Level 3 means that there is magma extruding from the main crater that could drive explosive eruption. Taal Volcano is situated on Volcano Island and is listed as a Permanent Danger Zone, with permanent settlement on the island not recommended, however, approximately 53,697 people (10,131 families) and CHF 129 millions of infrastructure are within 10 kilometre radius and 2.81 million people within 30 kilometre distance (AHA Centre). Taal Taal Volcano dark phreatomagmatic plume on 1 Volcano is among the most active volcanoes in the Philippines, with more July 2021. (Source: PHIVOLCS) than 30 reported eruptions. Last time Taal Volcano erupted in early Internal Page | 2 January 2020 affecting more than 736,000 people in CALABARZON (Region IV-A), Central Luzon (Region III) and National Capital Region (NCR), and leading to an evacuation of more than 135,000 people, damage to infrastructure and livelihoods, and disruption of essential services, such as water supply and education. An Alert Level 2 has been raised over Taal Volcano since 9 March 2021 due to increasing unrest, and the low-level background tremor has persisted since 8 April 2021. Taal Volcano Network has continued to record volcanic earthquakes and recently volcanic sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas emissions and steam-rich plumes rising up to 3,000 meters. On 28 June 2021, sulfur dioxide emission averaged at an all-time high of 14,326 tonnes/day and volcanic smog has been observed over the Taal Volcano has released steam-rich plumes and CALABARZON, the National Capital Region, and other parts of Luzon. high levels of volcanic sulfur dioxide gas emissions. Sulfur dioxide gas emissions remain high, indicating that magma at the (Source: PHIVOLCS) Taal Volcano is at a shallow level. Exposure to volcanic smog can irritate eyes, throat, and respiratory tract. People with pre-existing health conditions, the elderly, pregnant women, and children are the most vulnerable to its effects. According to PHIVOLCS, at 3:16 PM local time on 1 July 2021, Taal Volcano main crater generated a short-lived dark phreatomagmatic plume of magma and water, 1 kilometre-high with no accompanying volcanic earthquake at the time. Furthermore, short phreatomagmatic bursts and active upwelling of hot volcanic fluids at Taal Volcano were recorded on 2 July. If a strong eruption occurs, there could be pyroclastic density currents, which are clouds of hot gas, ash, and other volcanic debris. A volcanic tsunami is also possible since Taal Volcano is situated within Taal Lake. PHIVOLCS has strongly advised that the Taal Volcano Island and high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel, Batangas are to be evacuated due to the possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami. Entry into the island as well as high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel is prohibited. In addition, communities around the Taal Lake shore are advised to take precautionary measures and be vigilant of possible lake water disturbances related to the ongoing unrest. As of 1 July, residents from barangays inside the seven-kilometre danger zone are being evacuated. Map of the Taal Volcano Danger Zones. (Source: PRC) Internal Page | 3 Summary of the current response Overview of Host National Society Response Action In accordance with the PRC Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), the PRC activated its Emergency Operations Center for Taal Volcano Eruption to monitor 24/7 the eruption and alert level, weather, situations and providing pertinent information to offices and chapter. The PRC Alert Level was raised to yellow meaning that all services are on high alert to monitor the situation and standby necessary assets to support the affected areas. The National Disaster Response Teams (NDRT), PRC Emergency Response Units (ERU), safety, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health and welfare personnel have been alerted for possible deployment. The PRC Batangas Chapter ERU teams support pre-emptive evacuation of the families in Laurel, Batangas. (Photo: PRC) The PRC’s Batangas chapter has mobilized a Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) team to support evacuations and conduct assessments in the affected areas. Red Cross Action Teams (RCAT 143) and Red Cross community-based volunteers (Red Cross 143) are placed on standby for possible mobilization. The PRC has mobilized two ambulances and one 6x6 truck, and further prepositioning of vehicles and equipment is on-going. Furthermore, the PRC has prepositioned disposable PPE N95 masks and goggles for personnel use. Pre-emptive evacuation in the municipalities of Agoncillo and Laurel, in Batangas is ongoing. The food truck was deployed to Batangas on 1 July for ready to eat / hot meal assistance. Initial cash advances for operational use amounting to PHP 650,000 (CHF 12,500) is being processed. Close coordination with the LGU, national and provincial disaster councils (NDRRMC and PDRRMC) is maintained. The PRC Communications teams is posting updates and IEC materials for “What to do during Volcanic Eruption” disseminated in social media platform by the PRC. photos of the situation on Facebook and Twitter, including (Photo: PRC) dissemination of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials for “What to do during Volcanic Eruption” in all social media platform. Taal Volcanic activity is occurring, while the authorities and partner organizations are already responding to emergencies related to floods and typhoons in October and November 2020 (Goni MDRPH041, Vamco MDRPH041, MDRPH042) and the COVID-19 Pandemic (MDRCOVID19). This imminent crisis DREF is prepared as PRC’s current resources has reached the threshold of available national resources, resulting to trigger the request for additional support. Since January 2020, the country has also experienced the spread of COVID-19. On 12 March 2020, the Philippine government raised a Code Red sublevel 2 as recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). This has imposed stringent measures on the country including measures of physical distancing, enhanced community quarantines (ECQ), and limitation of movement within the entire country. As of 2 July 2021, a total of 1,424,518 COVID-19 cases and 24,973 deaths have been reported by the Department of Health (DOH) on the COVID- 19 Case Tracker. Internal Page | 4 Coordination and partnerships As auxiliary to the public authorities, the PRC maintains a strong relationship with government bodies through participation or collaboration with (i) the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), (ii) the provincial, municipal and barangay (community) disaster risk reduction and management councils, and (iii) the local government units defined in the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act 2010. The PRC participates in NDRRMC meetings and coordinates with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health. The PRC headquarters and local chapters are