Taal eruption looms as Phivolcs records more quakes, gas emissions

TAAL Volcano showed signs of a looming eruption on Wednesday as it registered its highest number of earthquakes at 383 over the past 24 hours and emitted more gas since it was placed under “elevated unrest” in March by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

The Taal Volcano Network (TVN) said the 383 volcanic earthquakes include 238 tremor episodes lasting from one to 12 minutes, 143 low frequency earthquakes and low-level background tremors.

Some 1, 886 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) were emitted by the volcano over the past 24 hours, the TVN said.

Renato Solidum, Phivolcs chief, told The Manila Times in a Viber message that Taal Volcano is at Alert Level 2 “and if current activity persists this can lead to an eruption”.

Solidum reiterated his warning against getting near the volcano island.

“Seismic activity and sulfur dioxide emission at Taal indicate continued magmatic and hydrothermal activity and people need to remain vigilant and should not go to the Taal Volcano Island (TVI) or go boating around the island,” he warned.

Ground deformation parameters from electronic tilt and data analysis have indicated a very slow and steady inflation and expansion of the Taal region since after the January 2020 eruption, Phivolcs said.

These parameters may indicate increased magmatic activity at shallow depths beneath the edifice, it said.

Solidum said another “big one” for Taal Volcano may be expected after it erupted in January 2020.

“It is possible to have eruptions after a year in Taal and this was manifested after the 1965 eruption, which was followed by eruptions in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970,” the Phivolcs chief said.

Solidum said entry into the Taal Volcano Island (TVI) and its Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), especially in the vicinities of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure must remain strictly prohibited.

Meanwhile, local government units near the TVI have been advised to continuously assess and strengthen the preparedness of previously evacuated villages around Taal Lake in case of renewed unrest, Phivolcs said.

Moreover, Phivolcs said civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and wind-remobilized ash may pose hazards to aircraft.