Taal Volcano unrest escalates to Alert Level 4

Taal Volcano began its unrest on March 28, 2019, under Alert Level 1.

On Sunday, January 12, 2020, Phivolcs raised the alert level to 2 due to a seismic swarm, a phreatic eruption generating a 100-meter ash plume, ground deformation, and gas emission.

By 4 pm on the same day, the alert level was increased to Level 3, indicating magmatic unrest.

By Sunday evening, the alert status was raised to Level 4, signifying a hazardous eruption was imminent.

The eruption escalated from a steam-driven event due to magma intrusion, producing ash columns up to 15 kilometers high and frequent volcanic lightning.

Ashfall from the volcano reached Calabarzon and Metro Manila, causing widespread disruptions.

The eruption caused lava mud, rocks, power outages, displaced thousands of families, destroyed crops, and led to the death or abandonment of animals, with millions in damages reported.