Taal Volcano alert lifted

MANILA, Philippines - State seismologists have lifted the alert status on Taal Volcano.

“This means observational parameters have returned to baseline levels and no magmatic eruption is foreseen in the immediate future,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in a bulletin on Wednesday as it announced the lowering of the alert status from level 1 to level 0.

Phivolcs said the frequency of volcanic earthquakes are average despite two distinct episodes of volcano-tectonic swarms that occurred in the latter part of 2012 and early part of 2015.

“In the event of a renewed increase in any one or combination of the above monitoring parameters, the alert status may step up once again to Alert Level 1,” it said.

The public is prohibited from entering the crater due to possible sudden steam or gas explosions, the agency said.

“High concentration of volcanic gases persists inside the main crater that may be harmful to human health. The northern portion of the main crater rim in the vicinity of the Daang Kastila trail should also be avoided because sudden bursts or increase in steam or gas emission along existing fissures can recur,” the bulletin stated.

The areas around the volcano remain a permanent danger zone and permanent settlement is discouraged, it added.