The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Tuesday raised the alert status of Taal Volcano – restive since February 13 – in Batangas from Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2 due to an increasing unrest.
The Taal Volcano Network recorded a total of 28 volcanic tremor episodes, four low frequency volcanic earthquakes and one hybrid earthquake at shallow depths of less than one and a half kilometers beneath Taal Volcano Island in the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Tuesday reminded all local government units (LGUs) near the Taal Volcano Island to undertake necessary precautions due to the volcano's increased unrest.
"The NDRRMC is constantly monitoring the situation of Taal, and our Regional DRRMC for CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal Quezon) has already reminded all LGUs around the volcano island to ensure readiness for any possibility," said NDRRMC deputy spokesperson Mark Cashean Timbal, in a message to reporters.
Preparations include the activation of evacuation sites and relief support.
"(These include) preparations for evacuation activities, evacuation centers, relief support, etc, (aside from) integrating COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) protection protocols," Timbal said.
Volcanic tremors have increased seismic energy compared to previously recorded episodes and ranged between three to 17 minutes in duration.
The total of volcanic tremor events has risen to 866 since the onset of increased activity on Feb. 13.
Overall, seismic activity in the past month indicated increased magmatic and hydrothermal activity at shallow depths beneath Taal Volcano Island. The increasing acidity was caused by sustained volcanic gas input into the shallow hydrothermal system that fed into the lake, signifying degassing of magma intruded at depth during the January 2020 eruption.
Phivolcs observed an ongoing slight deformation of the Taal Volcano Island centered on a pressure source on its southeast sector.
“In view of the above, the Department of Science and Technology-DOST-Phivolcs is now raising the alert status of Taal from Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2. This means that there is probable magmatic activity that may or may not lead to an eruption,” it said.
At Alert Level 2, evacuation is not yet recommended.
However, the public is reminded that Taal Volcano Island is a permanent danger zone, and that entry into island, especially the vicinities of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, must remain strictly prohibited.
Phivolcs said local government units are advised to continuously assess previously evacuated barangays around Taal Lake for damages and road accessibilities and to strengthen preparedness, contingency and communication measures in case of renewed unrest.
“Residents of these barangays are advised to be always prepared, to keep calm and listen to information only from trusted or Batangas’
Alitagtag Mayor Edilberto Ponggos said “we already have some contingency plans, and that almost all towns have since last week we had a meeting of mayors. We have discussed our contingency plans.”
“There is no smoke emission yet coming from the volcano as of now,” he said.
“Alitagtag has not felt any tremors, but the parts of Agoncillo and San Nicolas, the shaking could be quite felt.
The town of Alitagtag has set up an evacuation center for those residents within the 14-kilometers danger zone.
“We also have a contingency plan for the evacuation of their animals,” he said.
On Tuesday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised Alert Level 2 over the volcano which means eruption could still happen.
While evacuation is not recommended under this alert status, the public is advised against going to the Taal Volcano Island which is classified as a permanent danger zone.
The vicinities of the main crater and Daang Kastila fissure must also remain strictly off-limits to people. With PNA