DANGER ZONE Taal Volcano Island, “Pulo” to locals who once lived there before the volcano erupted in January last year, is largely deserted after the government declared the area a permanent danger zone. The volcano’s alert status has been raised to Level 2, indicating increasing unrest. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 2 reported the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Friday morning after 270 volcanic earthquakes were recorded in the area in the last 24 hours.
According to 8 a.m. Phivolcs bulletin, 193 of the recorded earthquakes were “episodes of volcanic tremor” lasting from 1 to 12 minutes, while 77 were low-frequency volcanic earthquakes.
“Activity at the Main Crater consisted of weak emission of steam-laden plumes from fumarolic vents that rose ten meters,” Phivolcs said.
Phivolcs likewise said temperature highs of 71.8 degrees Celcius and pH (measure of water acidity) of 1.59 were last measured from the Main Crater Lake on March 4 and February 12, 2021, respectively.
Further, Phivolcs said data analysis indicated “a very slow and steady inflation and expansion of the Taal region since after the January 2020 eruption.”
“These parameters may indicate increased magmatic activity at shallow depths beneath the edifice,” Phivolcs added.
Under Alert Level 2, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within and around the Taal Volcano Island (TVI).
“DOST-PHIVOLCS strongly recommends that entry must be strictly prohibited into Taal Volcano Island, Taal’s Permanent Danger Zone or PDZ, especially the vicinities of the Main Crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, and occupancy and boating on Taal Lake,” Phivolcs said.
State volcanologists raised the status of Taal Volcano to Alert Level 2 more than a year after its last phreatic eruption in January 2020.