The History of Taal Volcano
Taal volcano is known as the smallest active volcano in the world. It sits right in the middle of the clear blue water of Taal Lake in the province of Batangas, in the Philippines. Widely regarded as one of the most picturesque destinations in the country, Taal volcano is located about 50 kilometers (31 mi) south of Manila, the capital.
Past eruptions
Since 1572, it has been the cause of death of more than 5,000 people with 33 historic eruptions — its greatest eruption was recorded in 1754. According to Priest Manuel de Arce, the 1716 eruption "killed all the fishes... as if they had been cooked since the water had been heated to a degree that it appeared to have been taken from a boiling cauldron".
Recent activity
In January 2020, Taal volcano erupted. The Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) announced an alert level 4 so force evacuation has been made on the island. The eruption spewed ashes up to Metro Manila with thunderstorms and lightning. A total of 39 people died in the eruption, mostly because they refused to leave their homes or suffered health-related problems during the evacuation. Lots of animals have also been killed.
This year 2021, the unrest gradually decreased so PHIVOLCS lowered the alert level status to level 2 but PHIVOLCS stressed that the threat of an eruption has not disappeared.
Did you know that Taal volcano gave its name to Taal Coin (TAAL), a crypto project that aims to provide relief goods to affected populations in the Philippines? To know more on ways to donate using crypto, visit taalcoin.io.