Taal records more phreatomagmatic bursts

STEAM-DRIVEN SMOKE Taal Volcano emits steam-driven plumes as seen from Tagaytay-Talisay Road, Tagaytay City, Cavite provice, on Monday morning. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

State volcanologists said that five “short” phreatomagmatic bursts were recorded over the restive Taal Volcano from Thursday to early Friday.

In its volcano bulletin issued on Friday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the bursts, brought about by contact of hot magma and water, produced short jetted plumes about 200 meters high.

The bursts occurred at 6:47 a.m., 6:06 p.m., 9:21 p.m. and 9:50 p.m. on Thursday, and 2:59 a.m. on Friday.

Taal Volcano was still releasing high levels of volcanic sulfur dioxide or SO2, as the emission averaged at 6,095 tons per day on Thursday.

The volcano’s main crater also produced steam-rich plumes about 1,200 m high.

58 volcanic earthquakes

A total of 58 volcanic earthquakes were also recorded in the past 24 hours until early Friday.

The ground activity included five explosion-type earthquakes, 24 low-frequency earthquakes, 27 volcanic tremor events that lasted between one minute and six minutes, two hybrid quakes and low-level background tremor that were recorded since Wednesday.

As of Friday, Taal Volcano remained under alert level 3 (magmatic unrest), which means that magma being released from the main crater could lead to an explosive eruption.

The alert level was raised following a five-minute phreatomagmatic eruption on July 1.

Entry into the Taal Volcano Island—a permanent danger zone—is prohibited. The public is also barred from entering high-risk villages in Agoncillo and Laurel towns in Batangas province.

Data from the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center showed that 797 families or 3,027 individuals have sought temporary shelter in 20 evacuation centers in towns surrounding Taal Lake as of Wednesday.

Some 700 families of 2,786 people are staying with relatives.

—NIKKA G. VALENZUELA