Taal Volcano’s toxic gas emission drops

 FILE PHOTO: Taal Volcano emits steam plumes on May 27, 2021

LUCENA CITY – The emission of a high volume of toxic sulfur dioxide (SO2) from Taal Volcano in Batangas province further subsided on Monday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

In its bulletin, Phivolcs reported that the volcano emitted 6,911 metric tons (MT) of sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas, over the past 24 hours and rose to 1,200 meters high before drifting southwest.

However, the state volcanologists still noted an “upwelling of hot volcanic fluids” in the main crater lake, located on Taal Volcano Island, locally known as “Pulo,” which sits in the middle of Taal Lake.

No seismic activities were recorded during the observation period.

READ: Taal Volcano continues to spew toxic gas

The latest emission level dropped from 10,848 MT of volcanic sulfur dioxide from Feb. 1 to 4, much lower than the 12,669 MT emitted on Jan. 29 and 30.

On Jan. 25 to 28, the volcano released 15,145 MT of toxic volcanic gas, the highest so far this year.

Last year, the volcano logged 11,499 MT on Nov. 9, the highest emission level recorded in 2023.

However, the latest update observed no volcanic smog or vog over Taal Caldera throughout the day.

READ: Taal Volcano’s toxic gas emissions ease

Vog contains acidic volcanic gases in fine droplets, causing eye, throat, and respiratory irritation. Severity depends on gas concentrations and exposure duration.

Taal Volcano remained under alert level 1 (low level of volcanic unrest), according to Phivolcs.

The agency reminded the public that the volcano continued to display an “abnormal condition” and “should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity.”