Experts Warn Of Instant Death Within Taal Volcano’s Danger Zone During Eruption

Scientists warned that anyone within the 14-kilometer danger zone around the Taal Volcano in the Philippines will meet instant death once an eruption occurs. They issued the grave warning after describing what the volcano’s eruption might be like.

After Taal Volcano’s initial eruption on Jan. 12, agencies in the Philippines have been closely monitoring the volcano’s activities. Currently, the status of the volcano is at Alert Level 4, which means it can erupt at any moment.

Due to the volcano’s dangerous status, local authorities have established a 14-kilometer danger zone around Taal. This indicates that the areas within this zone will be greatly affected in the event of a violent eruption.

According to Danniko Rivera, a senior science research specialist for the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), anyone within the established danger zone during an eruption will most likely die due to the intense volcanic activity.

“It is hazardous because the movement [of magma will be] fast and hot,” he told CNN Philippines. “[It will be] definitely deadly for someone in the vicinity.”

Carlo Arcilla of the National Institute of Geological Sciences warned that once the Taal volcano erupts, it will create conditions that will be hazardous for anyone within the area. He said the temperature of the magma, which can range from 600 to 1,000 degrees Celsius, will most likely be the leading cause of death for anyone within the danger zone.

“What will kill you is when you breathe in the 600-degree air, that's a fast death,” he stated. “You will be burnt.”

According to the experts, once the Taal Volcano erupts, it will most likely cause a powerful base surge. This means the volcano will display a horizontal displacement of ash, hot gases and other volcanic fragments into the air at a speed of about 60 kilometers per hour.

Another possible eruption scenario involves the flow of magma out of the volcano’s vents and into the lake surrounding Taal. The volcano could also launch rocks and other fragments several kilometers into the air, which can fatally hit people in the surrounding areas.