Taal continues to emit steam-laden plumes

PHIVOLCS on Wednesday morning maintained Alert Level 3 over Taal Volcano which continued to release steam-laden plumes.

Its sulfur dioxide emission—an indicator of movement of magma towards the surface—was measured at 64 tonnes per day, according to PHIVOLCS' 8 a.m. bulletin.

No trace of sulfur dioxide was detected by the volcanologists' instruments the previous day.

Meanwhile, the Taal Volcano Network recorded 123 volcanic earthquakes including three low-frequency events in the past 24 hours.

According to the United States Geological Survey, low-frequency earthquakes are "caused by cracks resonating as magma and gases move toward the surface."

"They are often seen prior to volcanic eruptions, but their occurrence is also part of the normal background seismicity at some volcanoes and their occurrence does not necessarily indicate that an eruption is imminent," the USGS said.

The Philippine Seismic Network, on the other hand, plotted three volcanic earthquakes with no felt event from 5 a.m. on Tuesday to 5 a.m. on Wednesday.

This brings to 755 the total number of volcanic earthquakes plotted since Taal Volcano's initial eruption on January 12.

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

PHIVOLCS warned the public that "sudden steam-driven and even weak phreatomagmatic explosions (involving both magma and water), volcanic earthquakes, ashfall, and lethal volcanic gas expulsions can still occur and threaten areas within Taal Volcano Island and nearby lakeshores."

Moderate to voluminous emission of white to dirty white steam-laden plumes, 600 to 800 meters tall, was observed in Taal Volcano's main crater in the past 24 hours. These plumes drifted northeast.

PHIVOLCS advised that the Taal Volcano Island and communities west of the island within a seven-kilometer radius from the main crater should remain off-limits.

Areas outside the seven-kilometer radius have to be assessed by authorities for damage and road accessibility. Returning residents must also be prepared to evacuate in case of the volcano's renewed unrest, it added.

Further, those living beside active river channels with thick deposits of volcanic ash from Taal's previous eruption must be vigilant for possible lahar when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall.

Aircraft must also avoid flying close to the volcano due to hazards that may be posed by airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and wind-remobilized ash, PHIVOLCS said. —KBK, GMA News