Phivolcs records 288 quakes in Taal Volcano amid ‘elevated unrest’

LAKE VIEW Taal Lake, which surrounds Taal Volcano Island, is home to the freshwater sardine “tawilis,” a delicacy sought by patrons of restaurants and eateries around Tagaytay City and Batangas province. The impact of the volcano’s eruption last year on lake conditions and its aquatic life has yet to be fully studied by researchers due to Taal’s unrest and restrictions prompted by the pandemic. INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has recorded 288 earthquakes in Taal Volcano for the past 24 hours as it observed “elevated unrest” over the area.

Phivolcs said in its Tuesday bulletin that the earthquakes include 39 low frequency volcanic earthquakes and 249 volcanic tremors with durations of one to 20 minutes, as well as “low-level background tremor.”

“Most of these earthquakes were very shallow and generated within five kilometers beneath Taal Volcano Island or TVI and northeast Taal Lake,” said Phivolcs.

“Upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Main Crater Lake and active degassing from fumaroles on the Main Crater that produced 300-meter-tall steam-laden plumes were observed since daybreak,” the agency added.

According to Phivolcs, sulfur dioxide emission at the volcano averaged 2,214 tonnes on 17 May 2021.

Alert level 2 or “increased unrest” is maintained over the volcano, but Phivolcs said “elevated unrest has been recurring and volcano conditions remain unstable.”

The agency noted that 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 TVI.

Considering these conditions, Phivolcs “strongly recommends” that entry must be strictly prohibited into TVI, Taal’s Permanent Danger Zone, especially the vicinities of the Main Crater and the Daang Kastila fissure.

Phivolcs likewise advised concerned local government units to strengthen the preparedness of previously evacuated residents from barangays around the Taal Lake in case of renewed unrest.

JPV