Taal Volcano logs 12 earthquakes

FILE PHOTO: A plume of white smoke rises from Taal Volcano as viewed from Agoncillo town in Batangas province. BRENDA RECADIO/CONTRIBUTOR

LUCENA CITY — At least 12 volcanic earthquakes in Taal Volcano were detected over the last 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Tuesday, April 23.

In its bulletin, the state volcanologist said the earthquakes on Monday were accompanied by eight volcanic tremors that lasted from two to four minutes.

On Saturday, April 20, Taal Volcano recorded 17 volcanic earthquakes accompanied by six volcanic tremors that also lasted two to four minutes.

The state volcanologists also recorded four short-lived phreatic eruptions during the observation period on Saturday.

READ: Phivolcs: Taal Volcano’s gas emission level drops

In its latest update, Phivolcs reported an increase in sulfur dioxide emission from 2,104 metric tons (MT) of SO2, the lowest volume so far this year, to 3,504 MT which rose 900 meters tall on Monday.

However, the state volcanologist still observed an “upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Main Crater Lake” of Taal Volcano Island (TVI), locally known as “Pulo,” which sits in the middle of Taal Lake.

The state volcanologists in a public advisory explained that recent phreatic eruptions at Taal were probably caused by ongoing emission of hot volcanic gases, with the potential for more similar activity.

Yet, they stressed that the unrest is unlikely to escalate into a magmatic eruption, citing background levels of volcanic seismicity and ground deformation.

Taal Volcano is still under alert level 1 (low level of volcanic unrest), Phivolcs said.

The agency reminded the public that Taal Volcano remained in an “abnormal condition” and “should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity.” #