69 quakes detected on Taal Volcano as Mayon shows signs of acting up
Sixty-nine volcanic earthquakes were recorded on Taal Volcano, while one volcanic earthquake on Mayon Volcano was noted in the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Thursday.
In its 8 a.m. volcano bulletin, the Phivolcs said the 69 tremors recorded on Taal Volcano have durations of one to 61 minutes.
“Despite these, only weak steam-laden plumes were emitted by fumarolic activity at the vents of the main crater,” the state weather agency said.
State seismologists said temperature highs of 74.6 degrees Celsius and pH of 1.59 were last measured from the main crater lake on Feb. 18 and Feb. 12.
“Ground deformation
parameters from continuous electronic tilt on Volcano Island record a slight deflation around the main crater since October 2020 but overall, very slow and steady inflation of the Taal region has been recorded by continuous GPS data after the eruption,” read the latest bulletin.
Phivolcs said the Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 1.
It warned that sudden streamdriven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within the Taal Volcano Island.
Phivolcs cautioned the public against entering into the Taal Volcano Island, Taal’s permanent danger zone (PDZ), especially in the vicinities of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure.
The local government units (LGUs) were advised to continuously assess previously evacuated barangays around Taal Lake for damages and road accessibilities to strengthen preparedness, contingency, and communication measures in case of renewed unrest.
Phivolcs also advised civil aviation authorities pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and wind-remobilized ash may pose hazards to aircraft.
Meanwhile in Mayon Volcano, Phivolcs also observed moderate emission of white steam-laden plumes that crept downslope before drifting to the northwest and southwest.
Faint crater glow from the summit could be observed at night, it said.
On Feb. 24, Wednesday, sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission was measured at an average of 110 tonnes per day.
“Ground deformation data from continuous GPS monitoring indicate that the edifice is still inflated relative to July 2019 despite a period of general deflation since July-August 2020, and is undergoing short-term inflation since November 2020, except on the southwestern slope. Deflation of the edifice with short-term inflation of the northwestern slopes since December 2020 has also been recorded by electronic tilt monitoring,” the latest volcano bulletin stated.
Phivolcs said Mayon Volcano remains under Alert Level 1, which means that it is at an abnormal condition.
“Although this means that presently no magmatic eruption is imminent, it is strongly advised that the public refrain from entering the 6-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone due to the perennial lifethreatening dangers of rockfalls, landslides/avalanches at the middle to upper slope, sudden ash puffs and steam-driven or phreatic eruptions from the summit,” it said.
Phivolcs also urged the public to avoid active stream or river channels and those identified as perennially lahar-prone areas on all sectors of the volcano especially during heavy and prolonged rainfall.