LUCENA CITY: At least six earthquakes were recorded in Taal Volcano in Batangas province over the last 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Saturday, July 12.
In its morning bulletin, the state volcanologist said two volcanic tremors that lasted six to seven minutes accompanied the earthquakes on Friday.
Since July 6, the Taal Volcano Network stations located on Taal Volcano Island (TVI), which sits in the middle of Taal Lake and locally known as “Pulo,” have been recording a significant rise in real-time seismic energy measurement (RSAM), Phivolcs said in an advisory.
The agency explained that volcanic earthquakes originate from active volcanoes and exhibit distinct patterns characterised by their “mode of arrivals, periods and amplitudes.”
Volcanic tremors, on the other hand, are continuous seismic signals with either regular or irregular wave patterns and low frequencies.
In its 24-hour observation, Phivolcs reported that the volcano emitted 1,538 metric tons of sulfur dioxide that it had been releasing daily since July 9.
The volcano also emitted plumes reaching 1,500 meters high that drifted northeast and east. The Phivolcs classified the latest spewing activity as “voluminous emission.”
Taal remains under Alert Level 1, indicating low-level volcanic unrest, which means that it is still in abnormal condition and should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity, the Phivolcs emphasised.
At Alert Level 1, sudden steam-driven or phreatic or minor phreatomagmatic eruptions, minor ashfall and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within TVI, the Phivolcs explained.
Authorities strongly recommend that entry into TVI, the volcano’s Permanent Danger Zone or PDZ, especially the vicinity of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, “must remain strictly prohibited.”
Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying above TVI as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.
Taal Volcano is the Philippines’ second most active volcano, with 38 recorded historical eruptions. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
