Phivolcs records 17 volcanic quakes in Taal Volcano; Alert Level 3 stays
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Sunday said it recorded 17 earthquakes in Taal Volcano in the past 24 hours.
In its latest Taal Volcano advisory, Phivolcs said that of the earthquakes recorded, four were volcanic tremors that had durations of one to two minutes, while the other 13 were low-frequency volcanic quakes.
Phivolcs also said that the volcano generated plumes reaching 900 meters tall, drifting southwest, due to the upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in its lake.
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission, meanwhile, averaged 1,232 tonnes on Saturday.
Due to this, Phivolcs maintained the active volcano’s status under Alert Level 3.
“This means that there is a magmatic intrusion at the Main Crater that may further drive succeeding eruptions,” Phivolcs said.
It also recommended the evacuation of those in Taal Volcano Island and high-risk barangays, specifically: Bilibinwang and Banyaga in Agoncillo town and Boso-boso, Gulod and eastern Bugaan East in Laurel town, both in the province of Batangas due to the “possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami should stronger eruptions subsequently occur.”
Phivolcs also reminded the public that the entire Taal Volcano Island is a permanent danger zone, “and entry into the island and high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel must be prohibited.”
Civil aviation authorities were also advised to discourage pilots from flying over Taal Volcano Island due to airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and pyroclastic density currents such as base surges which may pose hazards to aircraft.
Phivolcs raised Alert Level 3 in Taal Volcano on March 26, after a series of short phreatomagmatic bursts, with plumes reaching as high as 1.5 kilometers were recorded by the agency.
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