Phivolcs: No volcanic activity in Taal after 5.5 magnitude quake

SAN PEDRO CITY — No movement was recorded in Taal Volcano in Batangas following a 5.5 magnitude earthquake that struck Mindoro island on Saturday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Saturday.

However, the earthquake at intensity II was felt in the areas near the Taal Volcano, specifically in Barangay (village) Alas-as in San Nicolas town in Batangas province and in Tagaytay City, Cavite province at 9:05 a.m.

“We have not monitored any (activity of Taal Volcano) since that,” said Lawrence Bañez, a science research aide of Phivolcs at the Taal Observatory, in a phone interview before noon.

Taal Volcano has remained under an alert level 1 since March due to the series of volcanic earthquakes.

The Philvocs earlier said that tectonic earthquakes should not affect or trigger an eruption of Taal.