Taal Volcano registers more tremors
TAAL Volcano registered more earthquakes, the highest so far since it was placed under “elevated unrest” and emitted more gas over the past 24 hours, signs of looming eruption, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Wednesday.
The Taal Volcano Network (TVN) has recorded 383 volcanic earthquakes including 238 tremor episodes having durations of one to 12 minutes, 143 low frequency volcanic earthquakes and low-level background tremors.
Some 1,886 tons of sulfur dioxide were emitted by the volcano in the Batangas province over the past 24 hours, TVN said.
The latest record of volcanic earthquakes as well as gas emissions turned out to be the highest so far after it was placed at an elevated unrest following a series of tremor episodes since early last month.
Renato Solidum, Phivolcs chief, confirmed with The Manila Times in Viber message the current “persistent” activity of the Taal Volcano.
“Taal Volcano is at Alert Level 2 and if current activity would persist, this can lead to an eruption,” said Solidum as he reiterated his warning against getting near the island.
“Seismic activity and sulfur dioxide emission at Taal indicate continued magmatic and hydrothermal activity and people need to remain vigilant and should not go to the Taal Volcano Island (TVI) or go boating around the island,” he warned.
Ground deformation parameters from electronic tilt and data analysis indicated very slow and steady inflation and expansion of the Taal region after the January 2020 eruption, Phivolcs said.
These parameters may indicate increased magmatic activity at shallow depths beneath the edifice, it said.
“Another ‘Big One’ may be possible since its last eruption in January last year,” Solidum said.
“It is possible to have eruptions after a year in Taal and this was manifested after the 1965 eruption, followed by eruptions in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970,” the Phivolcs chief explained.
“Alert Level 2 is currently maintained over Taal Volcano but that unrest has been elevated and is under constant evaluation,” he added.
Solidum said entry into the TVI and its Permanent Danger Zone especially in the vicinity of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure must remain prohibited.
Meanwhile, local government units near the TVI have been advised to continuously assess and strengthen the preparedness of previously evacuated villages around Taal Lake in case of renewed unrest, Phivolcs said.
Moreover, Phivolcs said civil aviation authorities must advise 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.