Taal Volcano records 56 quakes, 14 tremors in past 24 hours
ICONIC Taal Volcano’s iconic beauty, as seen from Tagaytay City, on this clear Sunday, April 13, hides the fact that the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has detected 55 earthquakes
around it in a span of just five days. Taal, one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines, remains on alert level 1. —PHOTO COURTESY OF JILLIAN DUMAS
LUCENA CITY — Taal Volcano in Batangas continues to exhibit signs of unrest, logging 56 volcanic earthquakes and 14 tremors over the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported Monday.
In its morning bulletin, Phivolcs said the volcanic tremors lasted between one and two minutes each.
From April 8 to 26, Taal Volcano — located in the middle of Taal Lake — recorded a total of 126 volcanic earthquakes and 34 volcanic tremors, according to agency data.
Phivolcs explained that volcanic earthquakes are “generated by magmatic processes” beneath or near an active volcano, differing from “tectonic earthquakes, which are produced by faulting.”
Volcanic tremors, meanwhile, are “continuous seismic signals with low frequencies, typically ranging from 0.5 to 5 Hz, that can last longer than a minute.” These tremors may result from the flow of magma or magmatic gas through cracks and vents, overlapping low-frequency earthquakes, or minor eruptions.
Phivolcs also reported a “weak emission” of 956 metric tons of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) from Taal’s main crater — up from 348 metric tons recorded in previous days.
No upwelling of hot volcanic fluids or “vog” (volcanic smog) was observed during the latest monitoring, the agency said.
Phivolcs maintained Alert Level 1 over Taal, warning that the volcano remains in an abnormal state and unrest has not ceased.
The agency cautioned that sudden steam-driven or minor phreatomagmatic eruptions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall, and the accumulation or expulsion of volcanic gases remain possible, posing threats to areas within Taal Volcano Island.
