Buoy markers in Taal Lake removed

MANILA, Philippines — Buoy markers in Taal Lake, which were installed to discourage residents from returning to Volcano Island, were removed yesterday.

“We have began removing the 100 buoys around Taal Volcano Island because they no longer serve a purpose now that Phivolcs (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology) has lowered the alert level,”  Commodore Artemio Abu, Philippine Coast Guard-Batangas Task Force commander, said. 

The buoy markers were installed on Jan. 27.

As Alert Level 2 remains over Taal Volcano, Phivolcs reminded the public that sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall and lethal accumulation or expulsion of volcanic gas could still occur and threaten areas within Volcano Island and along its coast.

Entry into the permanent danger is strictly prohibited, Phivolcs added.

Weak emission of steam-laden plumes rising 100 to 200 meters that drifted southwest were observed, according to a bulletin issued at 8 a.m. yesterday.