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The Most Disastrous Volcanic Eruptions in the Philippines and the World

In Partial Fulfillment of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

A Mini Research Paper Presented to

Ms. Charlene Miralles

Presented by:
Peñalosa, Jacinthe Angelou D.

February 13, 2022

 The Most Destructive Volcanic Eruption Ever Recorded in the Philippines
and in other Countries with Number of Lives being Taken Account

Philippines- Mount Pinatubo

Mount Pinatubo occurred in the Philippines on the

intersection of the province borders’ of Zambales,
Tarlac, and Pampanga. It is located on the
Philippine Luzon Volcanic Arc and is about 55
miles (90 km) northwest of Manila, which rose to a
height of about 4,800 feet (1,460 m) prior to its
eruption. It had an explosive eruption on June 15,
1991, with a 6 VEI. It is the second largest
th
volcanic eruption of the 20 century as it caused 350 deaths. After two months of emissions and
small explosions, a series of major explosions began on June 12. These explosions reached a
peak on June 14–16. It is by far the largest to affect a densely populated area. High-speed
avalanches of hot ash and gas (pyroclastic flows), massive mudflows (lahars), and a cloud of
volcanic ash hundreds of miles across were all produced by the eruption.

The World – La Garita Caldera

La Garita Caldera is a large caldera in

the San Juan volcanic field in the San Juan
Mountains near Creede, Colorado, in the United
States. Its eruption was one of the largest
known volcanic eruptions in Earth's history, as
well as one of the most powerful known super
volcanic events. It has a VEI of 8 to 9.2 with a
100-mile radius death casualty. The La Garita
volcanic eruption occurred approximately 27 million years ago. The La Garita eruption is thought
to have destroyed a significant portion of what is now Colorado. The deposit, known as the Fish
Canyon Tuff, was at least 11,000 square miles in size (28,000 km2). It has an average thickness
of 330 feet (100 m). The eruption produced a large amount of ash, but none has yet been
identified.
 Approximate Number of Active Volcanoes in the Philippines with Location

Luzon:

Babuyan Claro
Location: Babuyan Island, Babuyan Group
of Islands

Babuyan Claro, also known as Mount

Pangasun, is a stratovolcano, a conical
volcano made up of layers of hardened lava
and tephra. It has an elevation of 2,766 feet
and a base diameter of 8 kilometers. It has two craters that are 980 and 1,310 feet in diameter.
Its two confirmed historical eruptions date back to 1831 and 1860.

Banahaw
Location: Boundary of Laguna and Quezon

Banahaw, also called Banahao and Banájao, is

the highest mountain in the Calabarzon region.
This three-peaked volcano sits on the
boundary of Laguna and Quezon provinces. Its
last recorded eruption was in 1909.

Bulusan
Location: Sorsogon

A stratovolcano 70 kilometers southeast of the

Mayon Volcano. It has a peak elevation of
5,135 feet above sea level and a base
diameter of 15 kilometers. Around this volcano
are four craters and four hot springs. This
volcano is known for its sudden and steam-driven explosions. Since 1885, Bulusan Volcano has
erupted 15 times, making it the fourth most active volcano in the country. Its last eruption was in
2022.
 Camiguin de Babuyanes
Location: Camiguin Island, Babuyan Group
of Islands

A forested stratovolcano has an elevation of

2,336 feet and a base diameter of 3,200
meters. In 2020, Camiguin island had a
recorded population of over 5,200 people. Its
last eruption dates to 1857.

Didicas
Location: Cagayan

An active volcanic island under the jurisdiction of Cagayan province. This submarine
volcano re-emerged from the sea in 1952. Before that, this volcano first breached the ocean
surface in 1857. Didicas Volcano has an elevation of 748 feet and has a lava dome and a base
diameter of 3,900 feet at sea level. Since the 18th century, this active volcano in the Philippines
has had six historical eruptions. Didicas Volcano last erupted in 1978.

Iraya
Location:Batan Island, Batanes

Mount Iraya is the northernmost active

volcano in the Philippines and the highest
point in Batanes. To the Ivatan people, Mount
Iraya is sacred. This stratovolcano is heavily
forested and has an elevation of 3,310 feet
above sea level and a base diameter of
18,000 feet. This volcano last erupted in 1454.

Iriga
Location: Camarines Sur

Mount Iriga or Mount Asog is one kilometer

from Lake Buhi in Camarines Sur. It has an
elevation of 3,924 feet and a base diameter
of 10 kilometers. Its large crater was formed
because of a debris avalanche. Its last recorded eruption dates back to 1642.
 Isarog
Location: Camarines Sur

Another active volcano in CamSur is Mount

Isarog, with an elevation of 6,598 feet and an
8,202 feet crater. It has active fumaroles and
hot springs. Its peak serves as the point where
six municipalities and one city meet. In June
2002, under Proclamation No. 214, this active
volcano was declared a protected area under
the Mt. Isarog National Park.

Mayon
Location: Albay
Mayon is famous for its perfect cone shape,
making it a popular tourist spot in Bicol.This
volcano has an elevation of 8,081 feet and
bags the 28th spot in the country’s highest
peak. Since 1616, Mayon has erupted over 30
times, making it the most active volcano in the
Philippines.

Pinatubo
Location: Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga
This active volcano sits at the tripoint
boundary of Zambales, Tarlac, and
Pampanga, with a current elevation of 4,875
feet above sea level. Mount Pinatubo is
remembered for the 1991 eruption, the
second-largest eruption in the 20th century.
Smith
Location: Babuyan Island, Babuyan Group of Islands

Smith Volcano, or Mount Babuyan, is a cinder cone volcano. It has an elevation of 2,257
feet above sea level and a base diameter of 4.5 kilometers. This active volcano is considered
one of the island’s five Pleistocene-to-Holocene volcanic centers and the youngest volcano. It is
believed that Smith Volcano has erupted six times. Its last eruption dates back to 1924.

Taal
Location: Batangas

Taal Volcano is a large caldera filled by Taal Lake,

with an elevation of 1,020 feet above sea level. It
is known for its violent eruptions in the past and
high death toll, primarily due to its proximity to
populated areas. It has 38 recorded eruptions,
making it the second most active volcano in the
country. Its last eruption was in 2020.

Visayas:
Biliran (Anas)
Location: Biliran

Mt. Biliran is a solfataric active volcano in

Biliran. This volcano has caused the formation
of the island. This volcano has an elevation of
4,400 feet; its latest eruption was in
September 1939.

Cabalian
Location: Southern Leyte
It has an elevation of 3,100 feet and a base
diameter of 8.5 kilometers. In this volcano, it
has Cabalian Lake, which is 500 meters wide,
occupying the crater’s summit.
 Kanloan
Location: Negros

This volcano is the highest point in the

Visayas region, with an elevation of 8,087 feet
and a base diameter of 30 kilometers. It has
erupted around 30 times since 1819, Kanlaon
is considered the third most active volcano in
the Philippines. Its last eruption was in 2006.

Mindanao:

Bud Dajo
Location: Sulu
A cylindrical cone-shaped active volcano with
an elevation of 2,030 feet, the crater is 0.5 km
wide and a base diameter of 9.5 kilometers.
Under Proclamation No. 261, this mountain
and surrounding areas were declared a
national park.

Hibok-Hibok
Location: Camiguin Island, Northern
Mindanao
Mount Hibok-Hibok or Catarman Volcano has
an elevation of 4,370 feet and a base
diameter of 10 kilometers. It has six hot
springs and three craters. It has erupted four
times. Its latest eruption was in 1953.
 Leonard Kniaseff
Location: Davao de Oro
A stratovolcano sandwiched between the
municipalities of Mabini and Maco in Davao
de Oro. It has an elevation of 3,900 feet and a
2.03-kilometer in diameter known as Lake
Leonard. Its last eruption was in 120 A.D.

Makaturing
Location: Lanao del Sur
It is located in the town of Butig. A volcano
that has an elevation of 5,965 feet above sea
level. Its last eruption dates back to 1882.

Matutum
Location: South Cotabato
This stratovolcano is located in Tupi in South
Cotabato, serving as the highest point in the
province, with an elevation of 7,500 feet above
sea level and a base diameter of 25 kilometers.

Mélébingóy
Location: South Cotabato
It was formerly known as Parker Volcan and is
now known as Mount Mélébingóy or Melibengoy.
This volcano has an elevation of 5,853 to 5,984
feet and a base diameter of 40 kilometers. It has
a 2.9-kilometer caldera with steep walls rising
200 to 500 meters above Lake Maughan.
Musuan (Calayo)
Location: Bukidnon
Musuan Peak is located in the town of Maramag
in Bukidnon, 4.5 kilometers south of Valencia City
and 81 kilometers from Cagayan de Oro City. It
has an elevation of 2,119 feet above sea level
and a base diameter of 3 kilometers. Rainforests
and Cogon grass primarily cover the slope of this
volcano. This active volcano last erupted in 1886
or 1887.

Ragang
Location: Lanao del Sur
Mount Ragang is also known as Mount
Piapayungan and Blue Mountain. It has an
elevation of 9,236 feet and a base diameter of
32 kilometers, earning the seventh spot in the
highest mountains in the country. It serves as
the highest point in Lanao del Sur. Its last
eruption was in 1916.
 The Positive Products from Volcanoes or Volcanic Eruptions

Volcanoes have been commonly known to be negative to our world due to its ruinous
outcomes when it's active like destruction of property, killing people and many more to mention.
Volcanoes have a large effect on the locality. They produce ash, lava, volcanic bombs,
pyroclastic flows and lahars. However, there are positive outcomes from volcanic eruptions that
are especially observable over a long period of time. These include the following:

1. Agriculture

Volcanic ash and lava from eruptions frequently cover large areas of land and are
hazardous to life, but these same materials weather to form soils over time. The resulting
volcanic soils have distinct physical and chemical characteristics that influence properties such
as moisture retention.

Elements such as magnesium and potassium are abundant in volcanic deposits. These
elements are released when volcanic rock and ash weather, resulting in extremely fertile soils.
Thin layers of ash can act as natural fertilizers, increasing crop yields in the years following an
eruption. This results in enhancing the economy over a long period of time due to high quality of
goods and farming commodities being sold at an adequate pricing.
 2. Energy

The internal heat of young volcanic systems has been used to generate geothermal
energy in areas where magma lies close to the surface. Energy is harnessed in areas where
water is heated to temperatures to over 1000 degrees. The water does not evaporate but
instead the steam and hot water rises to the surface where turbines harness the energy
produced. This is good for generating electricity, which increases renewable energy use.

3. Resources and Building Material

Also, Volcanic environments can produce rich mineral or metallic ore deposits when
rocks are ‘cooked’ in extremely hot water in a process called hydrothermal alteration. The
majority of the world's metallic minerals, such as copper, gold, silver, lead, and zinc, are
associated with magmas found deep within the roots of extinct volcanoes. This leads to
producing more outputs and things that are of high value and needed for human living. In
addition, Materials in the construction industry such as granite are formed by volcanic activity
 4. Tourism

People enjoy visiting volcanoes that are active and dormant for its aesthetic scenery.
They like to visit due to the diverse landforms and geothermal features that make volcanic
regions. Tourists enjoy the beautiful sunsets and take spectacular photographs of eruptions.
Some even do more extreme activities like climbing volcanic mountains or taking a hot air
balloon trip over the volcano. A concrete example of this is the high tourist rate of Mayon
Volcano in Aklan due to its perfect steep-sloped cone shape.

5. Creation of New Land

As mentioned, volcanic activity results in diverse landforms and geothermal features. It is

because when volcanoes erupt frequently it can lead to the formation of new land as the plates
pull apart, molten rock (magma) rises up and erupts as lava, creating new ocean crust. The
constant lava flow eventually hardens creating new land for human habitation.
 6. Enhance Global Warming

The gasses and dust particles thrown into the atmosphere during volcanic eruptions
have influences on climate. Most of the particles spewed from volcanoes cool the planet by
shading incoming solar radiation and cooling effect. Volcanic gas like sulfur dioxide moves into
the stratosphere and combines with water to form sulfuric acid aerosols. The sulfuric acid makes
a haze of tiny droplets in the stratosphere that reflects incoming solar radiation, causing cooling
of the Earth’s surface. The aerosols can stay in the stratosphere for up to three years, moved
around by winds and causing significant cooling worldwide. Eventually, the droplets grow large
enough to fall to Earth.
 Reference
● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Garita_Caldera
● https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/volcanoes-eruptions-history#:~:text=The%20mo
st%20violent%20eruption%20registered,changing%20the%20climate%20on%20Earth.
● https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/1997/fs113-97/
● https://appliedsciences.nasa.gov/our-impact/story/remembering-mt-pinatubo
● https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/colorado-eruption-around-27-milli
on-years-ago-dwarfs-all-others-known-today-worldwide/article_c045ab75-28b0-5b29-91
c3-d8f85a822190.html
● https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Pinatubo
● https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/volcano-hazard/volcanoes-of-the-philippines
● https://www.lamudi.com.ph/journal/active-volcanoes-philippines/
● https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-are-some-benefits-volcanic-eruptions#:~:text=The%20in
ternal%20heat%20associated%20with,the%20roots%20of%20extinct%20volcanoes.
● https://www2.klett.de/sixcms/media.php/229/s15_worksheet_volcano_tourism_us.pd
● https://www.bgs.ac.uk/discovering-geology/earth-hazards/volcanoes/living-with-volcanoe
s/