Taal records 8 volcanic earthquakes

LAKE WORK: It’s a normal working day on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, for fishermen and caretakers of fish cages in a section of Taal Lake in Agoncillo, Batangas, even as Taal Volcano remains on “increased unrest” status.  On Tuesday, it caused at least eight volcanic earthquakes. (Photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Tuesday it had monitored several activities in Taal Volcano such as degassing and at least eight volcanic earthquakes.

For the past 24 hours on Tuesday, Phivolcs said there were eight “low-frequency” volcanic earthquakes in Taal, as well as “low-level” background tremor that has persisted since July 7, 2021.

In its advisory, the Phivolcs also said the activity at the volcano’s main crater was “dominated” by upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in its lake, generating plumes 600 meters tall that drifted southwest.

Sulfur dioxide emission, meanwhile, averaged to 10,594 tons per day on Jan. 31.

Renato Solidum Jr., director of Phivolcs, explained that what is happening in Taal is that its magma at the shallow level is degassing, meaning the gas has been migrating upward.

Alert Level 2 remains AT Taal Volcano.

—DEMPSEY REYES