No volcanic ‘eruption’ in Tabuk village

By Dexter A. See

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Experts of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology confirmed findings of the Cordillera office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau that the ground swelling in a creek at Sitio Lapat, Cabaritan here was caused by ground movement or landslide, and not by any seismic activity in the area.

The findings of the experts allayed fears of thousands of residents in the place that the ground swelling was a result of the revival of an alleged volcano.

The residents expressed fears of displacement from their ancestral lands and destruction of livelihood if the reported volcano erupts.

A survey conducted by experts of Philvolcs, Julio Sab-it, senior science research specialist, said no evidence of seismic activity in the area was found.

Sab-it said the seismic device installed in the area for a few days to record ground movement underneath ashowed no significant results. This prompted the team to conclude that there was no seismic activity.

At the same time, experts also examined soil and water in the area to verify claims of residents that water temperature in the area is warmer and that the swollen ground “appeared sulfuric in nature.”

Based on samples tested by the experts, Sab-it said, the ground and water acidity is neutral and the temperature is still normal. There is no need for the villagers to panic about the phenomenon, he said.

The Philvolcs official said the change in water temperature could be caused by the reaction to the soil composition at some portions of the creek.

Moreover, they said, gasses are formed when physical and chemical changes occur during the decaying process of plants, animals and other materials in land which is typical in forested areas.
These gasses are reportedly trapped underground and released when the soil opens during ground movement or excavation.

The team of experts recommended to local officials the conduct of further surveys and delineation in the area to determine the extent of the ground movement.

Earlier, the Cordillera MGB office, which conducted the initial survey in the affected area, found a significant change in the movement of the ground that was indicated by the increase in the size of the gap between the walls of a major crack located at around 250 meters above the base of a hill.

The Philvolcs team warned that a major landslide would occur in the area if the cracks collapse once the the area is saturated by the accumulated water.

They said the worst-case scenario would be the occurrence of “flash floods” which could affect several villages on the banks of the creek.

Because the ground on the other side of the hill is stable, the creek bed, which is composed of mud stones, was pushed upwards and formed the earth lump originally measured to be about 10 meters.