Volcanoes are an unpredictable force of nature, and sometimes, they erupt and leave devastation in their wake.

But we aren’t talking about just any volcano. We’re talking about the Taal Volcano, located near the popular weekend getaway spot Taal Lake.

News broke that it might erupt in the near future. Well, guess what? The “near future” already came and went.

Here’s a recap:

• On 12 January 2020, a volcano about 60km south of Manila, the capital of the Philippines erupted.
• It generated a 1km-high ash plume.
• The continuous eruption generated ash plumes that reached “as far as Quezon City”

TLDR? It was a massive eruption and a lot of people had to be evacuated. But if people were evacuated… what happened to the animals?

The Aftermath Of Taal Volcano Eruption: ‘Almost Everything Was Destroyed’

Many horses were left abandoned, at least momentarily as hoomans ran for safety.

These owners are small operators who depend on the money that their horses make from ferrying tourists up the volcano, which is a popular attraction.

Hence, when the volcano erupted, people were forced to run away without their belongings and livestock.

One owner said, “Our lives are in our horses; they’re how we make our living.”

The horses can make $9.40 for each trip up the volcano’s main creator. This may seem insignificant to us, but it means a lot to the owners as in the Philippines, millions of people survive on less than US$2 (~S$2.69).

Plenty of other farm animals on the island such as cows and goats perished in the eruption.

Not only that, but the island is now covered by a layer of fine volcanic ash.

Another man said, “Almost everything was destroyed” and revealed that he was able to recognize what was left of his island after spotting the Catholic church where he used to visit covered in mud.

It is understood that the island will “probably take years” for the island inhabitants to rebuild their lives since many lost their homes, farms and boats but have “nowhere to go”.

It really is distressing to hear how natural disasters can destroy our livelihoods. We wish those affected all the best.