Taal, Batangas residents found expanding large cracks in the ground following a series of earthquakes and heavy rains Friday in Brgy. Laguile.
Jay Em Simara said they were surprised to see cracks in the area as it rained.
“Unti-unti po siyang lumubog gawang nalambot po ang lupa. Nung tumagal nang tumagal po ang ulan, at nalaki na po ang baha, lumubog po ng lumubog siya,” said Simara, a resident in the area.
(It sank gradually as the soil became soft. As the rain continued and the floods grew, it also continued to sink.)
Other residents are also worried about the large cracks.
“Baka po lahat ng faultline eh baka po ganyan, lumaki lahat,” said Edmar Corsoni, who is also a resident of the said barangay.
(All of it could be along the fault line, that’s why it grew more prominent.)
Taal resident volcanologist Paolo Reniva said they continue to study the incident, especially in January, when these cracks appeared after the Taal volcano erupted.
“Nabisita na ‘yan ng DPWH kung papaano ang dapat gawin. Basta ang importante, ‘wag silang tumayo sa ibabaw ng fissures,” said Taal Mayor Pong Mercado.
(DPWH visited them, and they already knew what to do with them. What’s important is there should not stand above the fissures.)
Residents in the area should take extra precautions, the Mercado added.
Meanwhile, Mayor Pong said about 300 to 500 houses were affected by these fissures or cracks in the ground.
In January, Taal Volcano erupted and spew ash column that affected thousands of residents and destroyed houses and different establishments.
The Pansipit River also suddenly dried up as Taal Volcano continues to erupt at that time.
Pansipit River is connected to Taal Lake. The river is the sole drainage outlet of Taal Lake, which empties to Balayan Bay. The river stretches about 9 kilometers passing along the towns of Agoncillo, Lemery, San Nicolas, and Taal, serving as a border between the communities.
Residents are also worried as the number of road cracks increases four days after Taal Volcano erupted.
A series of road cracks and fissures from Taal bypass road going to the town of Lemery could be seen.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the cracks emerging Batangas roads indicate that magma or molten rock is moving toward the Taal volcano.