More volcanic quakes recorded around Taal

MANILA, Philippines — More volcanic earthquakes were recorded around Taal Volcano in Batangas in the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported yesterday.

Phivolcs said 113 volcanic quakes occurred between 8 a.m. on Thursday and 8 a.m. yesterday, which lasted for one to 34 minutes.

On Thursday, 69 volcanic quakes that lasted for one minute to more than an hour were recorded.

Phivolcs maintained the Alert Level 1 status of Taal, which means that it is in “abnormal condition.”

The agency reiterated its warning against entering the Taal Volcano Island, a permanent danger zone, saying sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic quakes, ashfall and lethal accumulation or expulsion of volcanic gas could occur.

Phivolcs said weak steam-laden plumes were observed at the vents of the main crater.

It also reported a “very slow” and “steady inflation” of the volcano after its eruption on Jan. 12 last year.

Taal is one of the country’s 24 active volcanoes. Its phreatomagmatic eruption last year displaced more than 300,000 people.