Taal Volcano in Batangas recorded 164 volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours, including 67 episodes of volcanic tremors lasting one to two minutes, and three hybrid events.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said activity at the main crater consisted of weak emissions of steam-laden plumes from fumarolic vents that rose 20 meters high.
Sulfur dioxide emissions that averaged 605 tons per day were measured on March 17, it added.
Ground deformation parameters from electronic tilt, continuous GPS and InSAR data analysis indicated a slow and steady inflation and expansion of the Taal region since after the January 2020 eruption.
“These parameters may indicate increased magmatic activity at shallow depths beneath the edifice,” Phivolcs said.
Alert level 2, denoting increased unrest, is maintained over Taal Volcano.
Phivolcs reminded the public that at alert level 2, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas could occur and threaten areas within the Taal Volcano Island.
On Monday, the Cavite provincial government, in partnership with the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management offices of different LGUs in Cavite and in Batangas, successfully conducted the simulation exercises for the Taal Volcano Eruption Evacuation Plan, amid drizzly weather and challenging routes.
Participating teams from the Philippine National Police headed by PMAJ Jonathan Asnan, Chief for Operations of the Cavite-Police Provincial Office, converged at two assembly areas, the Tagaytay City Evacuation Center in Brgy. Sungay West and at Amuyong-Alfonso Crossing early in the morning.
They received final instructions prior to heading to the different pickup areas in four municipalities of Batangas – Talisay, Agoncillo, Lemery and Laurel.
Pick up areas in Talisay were Banga Elementary School, Caloocan Covered Court and Old Sampaloc Barangay Hall, while for Agoncillo was Barigon Elementary School.
In Lemery, the pickup up location was Payapa National High School, and Montevideo De Tagaytay in Brgy. Dayap Itaas for the municipality of Laurel. Around 830 participants, taking the role as Individually Displaced Individuals (IDPs), were transported to Cavite from all the pickup locations.
All the evacuees were initially taken to the COVID-19 swabbing stations, one at Tagaytay City Evacuation Center and the other at Pansin Elementary School in Alfonso.
Sample swabbing using Antigen test kits were done on site by medical personnel from Cavite Provincial Health Office headed by Provincial Epidemiologist Dr. Nelson Soriano.
