Taal’s main crater lake has already dried up – Phivolcs

MANILA, Philippines — The Main Crater Lake (MCL) of Taal Volcano has now dried up, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Wednesday afternoon.

“Nakita po natin na vaporized na, nawala na po ang Main Crater Lake,” said Ma. Antonia Bornas, chief of Phivolcs’ Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division.

(We saw that the Main Crater Lake has vaporized and is no longer there.)

Satellite images showed that the MCL is now covered with ash and new cone-like vents have appeared.

The vaporization of the lake inside Taal’s main crater can be attributed to several things, according to Phivolcs.

One possible reason is the continuous intense volcanic quakes indicative of magma rising beneath the Taal edifice.

From 5 a. m. to 4 p. m. Wednesday, 53 volcanic quakes were recorded, 12 of which were considered intense.

Also, as a result of the “uplifting of the Taal region”, water from the lake has receded and portions of the Pansipit River have dried up as well.

Another possible reason for the vaporization, Phivolcs said, is the continuous appearance of new fissures. In their 5 p. m. bulletin, Phivolcs reported new cracks in Sambal Ibaba in Lemery town.

“Baka meron din tayong mga underwater fissures sa floor o ilalim ng Taal Lake at nagsink ang tubig dito,” explained Bornas.

(There’s also a possibility of underwater fissures on the floor or at the bottom of the Taal Lake, causing the water to sink.)

Generally, she said, these scenarios are related to ground deformation.

In addition, new vents where ash was expelled were observed on the main crater floor and on the northern part of the Taal Volcano.

Bornas said fissuring on Taal Island is a normal characteristic of the volcano based on historical accounts. It is also along the fissures that new vents usually emerge, she noted.

Taal’s eruption continued to be generally weaker, Phivolcs also said Wednesday, expelling 700-meter tall plumes that drifted southwest.

Taal Volcano remains at Alert Level 4.

“Kung titignan natin ‘yung monitoring record ngayon, malaki ‘yung chance na magkaroon tayo ng explosive eruption,” warned Bornas.

(If we look at our monitoring record, there’s a big chance that we’ll see an explosive eruption.)

Edited by KGA