PHIVOLCS notes rise in sulfur dioxide emissions as Taal quakes ease

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Saturday noted that while sulfur dioxide emissions at the Taal Volcano had risen, fewer earthquakes — with weaker magnitudes — were recorded.

"Meron po tayong nakikitang pababa na trend ng pag-lindol sa bulkan... Ito po ay alinsabay sa pag-weaken o pag-hina ng eruptive activity sa bunganga ng bulkan," explained PHIVOLCS Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division chief Mariton Bornas.

"Meron po talagang parang pag-baba po ng bilang at lakas ng mag lindol," she added.

Nevertheless, an Alert Level 4, signifying a possible hazardous eruption within hours or days, remained raised over Taal Volcano.

Additionally, Bornas said that the sulfur dioxide emissions from the volcano had increased to 1,442 tonnes from Friday's 360 tonnes.

The amount of sulfur dioxide emitted by the volcano indicates the upward movement of magma to the surface.

"Ine-evaluate pa po natin kung ano po ang kalagayan ng bulkan ngayon po'ng bahagyang humina na po ang kanyang activity... Ine-evaluate pa po natin 'yung mga probabilities na 'yung susunod po na pwedeng mangyari," Bornas said.

In its 6 p.m. bulletin, the Taal Volcano Network recorded 366 volcanic earthquakes, three tremor events, and eight low-frequency earthquakes from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m.

According to the bulletin, "such intense seismic activity likely signifies continuous magmatic intrusion beneath the Taal edifice, which may lead to further eruptive activity."

PHIVOLCS also recorded two discrete weak ash explosions.

Since Friday, the Taal's volcanic activity has been generally characterized by weak emission of 500 to 800-meter steam laden plumes from the Main Crater that drift to the general southwest.

PHIVOLCS reiterated the total evacuation of Taal Volcano Island and high-risk areas identified in the given 14-kilometer danger zone from the Taal Main Crater and along the Pansipit River Valley.

It also advised residents to guard against the effects of heavy and prolonged ashfall.

Civil aviation authorities were also called on to advise pilots to avoid the airspace around the volcano due to airborne ash and ballistic fragments. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM/MDM, GMA News