The explosion of Taal Volcano on Sunday, January 12, 2020 with the height of expulsion reach about more than half of a miles to the air belching ashes and tiny stones prompting authorities to issued evacuation to all villagers on affecting areas.

Aside from hazardous explosion of Taal Volcano, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) also warns for possible volcanic tsunami.

What is Volcanic Tsunami?

According to Isabel Abigania, PHIVOLCS senior science research specialist, Volcanic Tsunami is a disturbance of water column caused by the underwater volcanic eruption discharging into the sea or nearby body of water. To simply understand, volcanic tsunami is an occurrence from the force produced from a huge volume of something or masses to be thrown widely into the body of water that will lead to create big enough waves.

Taal Volcano is surrounded with huge volume of water from Taal Lake, its explosion or violent eruption would possibly lead to a volcanic tsunami that would affect shores in nearby places.

According to the International Tsunami Information Center, volcanic tsunami occurs after a violent volcanic eruption that leads to generate destructive waves affecting nearby places. Most of volcanoes around the world surrounded by water has the same tendency of volcanic tsunami when they erupt.

Volcanic Tsunami incidents:

Krakatoa, Indonesia huge explosion and collapse in August 26, 1883 forming big enough waves reaching the height of 135 feet destroying coastal towns and villages in both Java and Sumartra leaving 40,000 people deaths.

Mount Unzen, Japan causing destructive landslide generating a 165-feet tsunami accompanied by the earthquake triggering landslide to Mayuyama peak that leads to the rising of 4,000-year-old lava covering the city of Shimabara. The landslide leads catastrophe that swept away the city reaching until the Ariake Sea by the tsunami leaving around 15,000 deaths.