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Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

Taal still shaking, emitting steam

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About 153 volcanic earthquakes, including two low-frequency earthquakes, were recorded from Taal Volcano in the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said Sunday.

In their 8 a.m. bulletin, state volcanologists said the activity in the main crater had been characterized by weak emissions of white steam-laden plumes 50 to 100 meters tall that drifted southwest, and that sulfur dioxide emission was measured at an average of 97 tons per day.

“These earthquakes signify magmatic activity beneath the Taal edifice that could lead to eruptive activity at the main crater,” Phivolcs said, adding Alert Level 3 was still up over the volcano.

In related developments:

• Phivolcs said the Taal Volcano Network was able to record 153 volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours”•lower than the 182 quakes in the previous 24-hour period.

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The continuing quakes showed “magmatic activity… that could lead to eruptive activity at the main crater,” it said.

• Now that the alert level for Taal Volcano has been lowered from four to three, Senator Sonny Angara urged all concerned government agencies to immediately conduct an assessment of the damage brought about by the eruption two weeks ago.

Angara, who is chairman of the Finance Committee that went over the P4.1 trillion General Appropriations Act for 2020, said there was a significant amount of funding available for use of the different government agencies.

Phivolcs reminded the public that sudden steam-driven and even weak phreatomagmatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall and lethal

volcanic gas expulsions could still occur and threaten the areas within Taal Volcano Island and the nearby lakeshores.

It recommended no entry into Taal Volcano Island as well as into the areas over Taal Lake and communities west of the island within a seven-kilometer radius from the main crater.

The agency also advised local government units to assess the areas outside the seven-kilometer radius for damage and road accessibilities and to strengthen preparedness, contingency and communication measures in case of renewed unrest.

“People must observe precautions due to ground displacement across fissures, frequent ashfall and minor earthquakes,” Phivolcs said. 

“Communities beside active river channels particularly where ash from the main eruption phase has been thickly deposited should increase vigilance when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall since the ash can be washed away and form lahar along the channels.”

Since airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and wind-remobilized ash may pose hazards to aircraft, Phivolcs stressed that civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano.

On Saturday, another harmonic tremor or rhythmic shaking associated with magma movement was recorded from the volcano. With Rio N. Araja and Macon-Ramos-Araneta

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