CALMNESS | This view of Taal Volcano from Tagaytay City on Jan. 4, 2024, is one of serenity despite the high volume of sulfur dioxide emission recorded in previous weeks. (Photo from the Tagaytay City Tourism Office)
LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines — After spewing an alarmingly high volume of sulfur dioxide (SO2) last week, the emissions from Taal Volcano in Batangas province subsided, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Tuesday.
A total of 10,933 metric tons of SO2 from the volcano’s main crater was measured over the past 24 hours and rose to 1,100 meters above Taal Volcano Island, the volcano’s crater landmass locally known as “Pulo” that sits within Taal Lake, before drifting southwest, the Phivolcs report said. No earthquake was recorded during the same monitoring period.
‘Abnormal’
The level of emission was lower than the 12,685 MT logged on Jan. 4, which was greater than the 11,499 MT recorded on Nov. 9, the highest last year.
Taal Volcano will remain under alert level 1 (low level of volcanic unrest), which means that phreatic eruptions, volcanic earthquakes, thin ashfalls and hazardous gas emissions may occur, Phivolcs said.
The state volcanologists reminded the public that Taal Volcano continued to display an “abnormal condition” and “should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity.”
The high level of SO2 emissions and sporadic steam releases have caused volcanic smog, or “vog”—a harmful haze that contains volcanic ash and gas—to descend on localities close to the volcano, mainly lakeshore towns in Batangas and in Tagaytay City in Cavite province, which overlooks Taal Lake and Pulo.
Government officials in all localities surrounding the volcano have always reminded residents to wear face masks, preferably the N-95 type, when going out of the house for protection against vog during the emission of a high volume of toxic gas.
Vog is composed of SO2 gas and could irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Notably, people with respiratory conditions and pregnant women are at greater risk.