By Hanah Tabios  “Huwag po nating igugol ang ating buhay para lamang po sa pagkuha natin ng shots doon sa bulkan (Let’s not risk our lives by taking shots inside the volcano).” Fishermen continue to catch some fish as Taal Volcano continues to erupt at Balete, Batangas on Monday. (Jansen Romero / MANILA BULLETIN) This was the reminder of Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) official Maria Antonia Bornas during Sunday’s press briefing amid the circulation of photos and videos on social media taken at a close range. Bornas is the agency’s chief science research specialist who has been facing the media to give constant updates about the unfolding disaster in Batangas. “Nagkakaroon pa po tayo ng minor eruptions kahit na walang sign na magkakaroon tayo ng malakas as of the moment, maaari tayong magkaroon ng sudden pheatomagmatic eruption,” she said when asked about risk of the situation. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) defined “phreatomagmatic” as a type of eruption that involves both magma and water, which typically interact explosively, leading to concurrent ejection of steam and pyroclastic fragments. Barnos said defying orders from authorities on the ground may pose greater danger to one’s life. To recall, several towns in Batangas were put under lockdown amid the volcano’s unrest since Sunday, Jan. 12. “Nangyayari ‘yan and you have ash dispersed around the volcanoes. Sometimes, merong mga minor flows na bumababa sa bibig ng bulkan and then, meron, of course, na malakas na expulsion ng gas so napakamapanganib ng mga ito. Kaya’t definitely yung sa Taal Volcano Island kahit po tayo sa ating organization, kumakalap din po tayo ng information sa social media at nakikita po natin na may pumupunta na sa pulo at nagla-livestream pa nga po, napaka dangerous at napakamapanganib po ito,” the veteran scientist warned. Barnos also stressed that some areas, primarily those within the 14-kilometer danger zone, will suffer most due to their proximity to the volcano island, or known to many as “pulo.” Hence, she said evacuation orders from concerned local government units (LGUs) must be followed. “Yung malakas po na pagsabog talaga pong napakamapanganib nyan particularly sa mga bayan ng Agoncillo, Laurel, at San Nicolas dahil sila po ay yung nakaharap sa pinakamalapit na bahagi ng main crater,” she said. When asked about the gravity of an impending danger she replied: “Napakabilis po ng pangyayari . Yung base surge na maaaring malikha ay napakabilis tumakbo hindi matatakbuhan,” she added. She even noted that the agency had earlier conducted a study related to the 1965 Taal Volcano eruption and divulged that survivors whom they spoke to remained traumatized even until now. ”Nakita nila yung base surge na kumikilos papunta sa lakeshore at talagang traumatized pa po sila. Kapag nakukwento po nila umiiyak pa po sila,” she said. A 1966 published research journal revealed that the 1965 Taal Volcano eruption covered an approximate area of 60 square kilometers with a blanket of ash more than 25 centimeters thick. The eruption also killed around 50 individuals while hundreds remain missing. Meanwhile, on the matter about “window hours” or allowing residents to visit their homes at a given period of time, Bornas said the agency is reiterating its recommendation that areas within the danger zone should be totally evacuated. However, given the circumstance and other important factors to be considered, the agency is giving the final call to the LGUs. “Again, yung ating pong babala ay mariin. We stand firm on our recommendation na dapat totally evacuated at hindi po dapat pumapasok doon sa loob ng nakadefine na danger zones. But again, katulad po ng ating sinasabi, tayo po, as scientists, ang basis po natin ay scientific data. Ang mga LGUs po on the ground marami po silang factors na kailangan iconsider sa mga decision nila scientific data, concerns po ng kanilang mga constituents, citizens, economic reasons, so mas complex po ang decision nila so decision po nila yun,” she said.