Taal Volcano continues to show signs of imminent danger with a “short-lived” phreatomagmatic eruption occurring at the main crater on Wednesday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported.
The brief phreatomagmatic eruption occurred at the main crater of the restive volcano at 5:18 a.m., generating grayish plume that rose 300 meters high.
According to Phivolcs, in the past 24-hour period, the Taal Volcano Network recorded 55 volcanic earthquakes, including one explosion-type earthquake, 55 low frequency volcanic earthquakes, five volcanic tremor events with durations ranging from 2 to 5 minutes.
To recall, high levels of volcanic sulfur dioxide or SO2 gas emissions and steam-rich plumes that rose 1,500 meters was generated from the volcano’s main crater on July 6. On the same day, SO2 emission averaged 7,560 tonnes/day.
Taal Volcano continues to be under Alert Level 3 or magmatic unrest
According to Phivolcs, at Alert Level 3, magma extruding from the main crater could drive explosive eruption.
“The public is reminded that the entire Taal Volcano Island is a Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), and entry into the island as well as into the high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel must be prohibited due to the hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami should strong eruptions occur,” Phivolcs said.
According to Phivolcs, all activities on Taal Lake should not be allowed.
Meanwhile, communities around the Taal Lake shores are advised to remain vigilant, take precautionary measures against possible airborne ash and smog and calmly prepare for possible evacuation should unrest intensify.
Likewise, state volcanologists cautioned civil aviation authorities to advise pilots to avoid flying over Taal Volcano Island as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and pyroclastic density currents such as base surges may pose hazards to aircraft.
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