Taal volcano emits steam 500m high

TAAL VOLCANO had a “weak” emission of steam reaching 500m high, and spewed more sulphur dioxide over the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Tuesday.

In its 8am bulletin (0000 GMT), Phivolcs said the steam emitted from the volcano’s main crater drifted southwest.

Meanwhile, the sulphur dioxide emitted from Taal’s main crater was recorded on Monday at 231 tonnes per day. This was a significant increase to Phivolcs’ previous figure of 97 tonnes per day as recorded last February 1.

The Taal Volcano Network, which Phivolcs said records “small but undetectable earthquakes” around Taal volcano, also recorded 223 volcanic earthquakes, including eight low-frequency events and one harmonic tremor that lasted nearly three minutes long over the past 24 hours.

“These earthquakes signify magmatic activity beneath the Taal edifice that could lead to eruptive activity at the main crater,” Phivolcs explained.

Alert Level 3 remains hoisted at the Taal volcano, which means “sudden steamdriven and even weak phreatomagmatic eruptions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall, and lethal volcanic gas expulsions can still occur and threaten areas within Taal Volcano Island and nearby lake shores”.

“Phivolcs recommends that entry into the Taal Volcano Island as well as into areas over Taal lake and communities west of the island within a 7km radius from the main crater must be strictly prohibited,” Phivolcs has advised.