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Taal lake, Batangas river drying up? Phivolcs explains why

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ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7sX2ZYS58F4?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA — State seismology institute Phivolcs on Thursday identified 2 factors on why the Taal lake and a river in Batangas province dried up following the eruption of a volcano there last weekend. </p><p>Set in the middle of a picturesque lake, Taal Volcano on Sunday belched an ash column that drifted towards Metro Manila and spewed a lava fountain the next day. </p><p>According to Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum, the eruption could have vaporized the water in Taal&#x27;s main crater. </p><p>&quot;Dahil po iyong lalim ng main crater ay mas mababa sa taas ng Taal Lake, may hydraulic gradient o slope iyan, kaya iyong tubig po ay papasok ngayon sa isla at bababa lake level,&quot; he told ABS-CBN News. </p><p>(Because the main crater is shallower than Taal Lake, there is a hydraulic gradient o slope there, so the water will flow to the island and the lake&#x27;s level will drop.) <br/> <br/>The Pansipit River flows into the Taal Lake. Any change in the lake&#x27;s depth will affect the river, he added. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/01/16/taal2.jpg"/><figcaption>A man is seen at the Pansipit river, which is drying up, in Taal town in Batangas on Jan. 15, 2020.<em> George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>The lake&#x27;s level could have also dropped due to &quot;ground deformations&quot; caused by the quakes spawned by the volcano, said Solidum. </p><p>&quot;Posible kasi na bumabagsak ang ibang parte ng lawa at iyong ibang parte naman ay umaangat,&quot; he said. </p><p>(It&#x27;s possible that some parts of the lake is dropping and other parts are rising.) </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/01/16/taal1.jpg"/><figcaption>Fishermen make their way back to the shore after checking upon their fish farms in Taal lake, Talisay town, Batangas on Jan. 13, 2020.<em> George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Huge cracks, he noted, recently opened in Lemery, Agoncillo and Talisay towns due to the quakes, which are likely caused by magma rising towards the volcano&#x27;s crater. </p><p>In the past 24 hours, Phivolcs recorded 494 quakes triggered by Taal, of which 14 were felt, the strongest at a &quot;weak&quot; magnitude 3, said Solidum. </p><p>Taal also continued bleching an 800-meter ash plume and about 4,100 tons of sulfur dioxide per day, he said. </p><p>The volcano remains under the second highest danger level, which means a &quot;hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days,&quot; said Phivolcs. </p>

<p>State seismology institute Phivolcs on Thursday identified 2 factors on why the Taal lake and a river in Batangas province dried up following the eruption of a volcano there last weekend. </p>

State seismology institute Phivolcs on Thursday identified 2 factors on why the Taal lake and a river in Batangas province dried up following the eruption of a volcano there last weekend.