Taal Volcano restive again 

AFTER nearly a week of being quiet, Taal Volcano again came to life, spewing gas and shaking the ground with dozens of tremors, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

In the past 24 hours, the agency recorded more than 200 volcanic earthquakes and almost 2,000 tons of gas emission.

The Taal Volcano Network (TVN) monitored 216 volcanic earthquakes including 177 tremor episodes having durations of one to 32 minutes, 39 low frequency volcanic earthquakes and low-level background tremor.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission averaged 1,932 tons as measured in the past 24 hours, according to Phivolcs chief Renato Solidum.

Continuous data analysis indicated a very slow and steady inflation and expansion of the Taal region since its eruption in January 2020, Phivolcs said.

“These parameters indicate persistent magmatic activity at shallow depths beneath the edifice,” Solidum said.

He reiterated his warning to those living near the volcano to remain vigilant and not to go boating around the island.

The Phivolcs chief said that Taal Volcano remains on Alert Level 2 “indicating an increased unrest which may lead to a magmatic eruption.”