Phivolcs: 55 quakes recorded in Taal Volcano in past 24 hours

Taal Volcano island once home to 8,000 people whose communities depended on tourism and fishing has been reduced to an eerie landscape after the eruption in January last year. A drone shot one year after shows gullies that have been formed on the volcano’s ash-laden slopes due to rainfall in the area. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 55 earthquakes were recorded in Taal Volcano in Batangas in the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Wednesday.

Of the total, 44 tremors lasted from two to five minutes.

Weak emission of steam-laden plumes that rose over 50 meters high were also observed at the main crater, Phivolcs said.

The sulfur dioxide emitted also averaged 689 tons/day on Tuesday.

The last time the temperature in the main crater lake was taken was on March 4, when the highest temperature recorded was 71.8 degrees Celsius.

The pH level meanwhile was last recorded on Feb. 12, when it registered 1.59.

Phivolcs said Taal Volcano’s landscape has been changing since it erupted in January 2020 where instrument readings showed “very slow and steady inflation and expansion.”

“These parameters may indicate increased magmatic activity at shallow depths beneath the edifice,” it said.

TAAL VOLCANO BULLETIN
17 March 2021
08:00 A.M.#TaalVolcanohttps://t.co/8AnH53wivm pic.twitter.com/laqRNIaRWW

— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) March 16, 2021

Alert Level 2 remains placed over the volcano, where it is possible for it to have sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ash fall, and accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas.

Entry to Taal Volcano Island remains strictly prohibited, Phivolcs said.

Phivolcs advised local governments to assess and strengthen preparedness in previously evacuated barangays around Taal Lake in case of renewed unrest.

It also said pilots must avoid flying close to Taal Volcano as ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions may be hazardous to aircraft.

EDV