Taal Volcano's magmatic activity persists —PHIVOLCS

Magmatic activity has continued beneath the Taal Volcano as earthquakes, low-frequency events, and tremors were recorded in the last 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said on Thursday.

Alert Level 3 is still up over the volcano.

According PHIVOLCS' 8 a.m. bulletin, from 5 a.m. on Wednesday to 5 a.m. on Thursday, the Taal Volcano Network detected 137 volcanic earthquakes.

“The network, which can record small earthquakes undetectable by the Philippine Seismic Network (PSN), recorded 137 volcanic earthquakes including two low-frequency events and one harmonic tremor that lasted for 97 seconds,” PHIVOLCS said.

“These earthquakes signify magmatic activity beneath the Taal edifice that could lead to eruptive activity at the main crater,” PHIVOLCS added.

Meanwhile, the PSN recorded seven volcanic earthquakes with no felt event.

Meanwhile, weak emission of white to dirty white, steam-laden plumes up to 500 meters tall drifting southwest and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission below instrumental detection were also observed, PHIVOLCS said.

Likewise, it reminded the public that hazardous events are still possible within Taal Volcano Island and nearby lake shores.

Possible hazardous events include steam-driven and even weak phreato-magmatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall, and lethal volcanic gas expulsions.

PHIVOLCS recommends prohibiting the entry into the Volcano Island as well as into areas over Taal Lake and west of the island within the seven kilometer radius from the main crater. —Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News