MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Taal Volcano is getting restive and an eruption, while not imminent, is a possibility, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned Saturday.
Phivolcs raised the alert status over Taal Volcano to Level 2 from Level 1, following an increase in volcanic earthquakes, carbon dioxide emissions and steaming activity. Level 2 is described as “alarming” and indicates probable magmatic intrusion that could eventually lead to an eruption.
RESTIVE. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Saturday raised alert level 2 over Taal Volcano following an increase in volcanic earthquakes, carbon dioxide emissions and steaming activity. DON LEJANO
“With this alert status, the present activities could eventually lead to an eruption,” Phivolcs said in its bulletin Saturday.
Level 5 is the highest warning and means that an eruption is in progress. Alert Level 4 means an eruption is imminent, and could take place in a few days. Under Level 3, an eruption is possible within days or weeks if there is a trend of increasing unrest.
Phivolcs said that since magma is rising up from the volcano, people should stay away from its main crater, the Daang Kastila Trail and Mt. Tabaro, the site of the 1965 eruption on the Volcano Island.
Sudden, hazardous steam-driven explosions could take place and toxic gases could fill the air, posing danger to all living things in the area.
“Breathing air with high concentration of gases can be lethal to humans, animals and even cause damage to vegetation,” it said.
It reminded the public that the Volcano Island is a permanent danger zone.
Taal Volcano and its lake are a popular tourist destination, with visitors trooping to the area to gaze at what is known as the world’s smallest active volcano.
According to Phivolcs, the number of volcanic earthquakes detected since Friday has increased, and they were becoming shallower.
A total of 21 seismic earthquakes have been recorded. Two of the earthquakes were perceptible and were felt at intensities 2 to 3. One was accompanied by a rumbling sound.
Carbon dioxide emissions from Taal’s Main Crater Lake were at 4,670 metric tons per day in the last week of March, up from the 1,875 tons per day recorded in February, the agency said.
“The remarkable increase in C02 concentration indicates its release from the magma at depth,” it added.
Phivolcs said that the release of steam from the north and northeast sides of the main crater has intensified, and hissing sounds have at times been heard.
Taal is one of the most unstable of the country’s 22 known active volcanoes with 33 recorded eruptions, the last one in 1977.
A lake surrounding the crater prevented deaths in 1977 and during other eruptions, as the body of water protected outlying areas from the lava.
With a report from Agence France-Presse