TAAL, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has maintained Alert Level 3 over Taal Volcano and called on concerned authorities to keep everyone off Volcano Island.
“Communities west of the island within a seven-kilometer radius from the main crater must be strictly prohibited,” Phivolcs said.
Phivolcs bulletin issued yesterday morning indicated continued Taal activity. “Activity in the main crater in the past 24 hours has been characterized by moderate emission of white to dirty white steam-laden plumes rising 200 to 300m high before drifting southwest,” the bulletin read.
“Weak steaming from fissure vents along the Daang Kastila trail is currently ongoing. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission was again below instrumental detection due to weak plume activity.”
The Taal Volcano Network recorded 118 volcanic earthquakes. These earthquakes signify magmatic activity beneath the volcano that could lead to eruptive activity in the main crater.
Phivolcs reminded the public that sudden steam-driven and even weak phreatomagmatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall and lethal volcanic gas expulsions can still occur and threaten areas within Taal Volcano island and nearby lakeshores.
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