The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has recorded 14 earthquakes in Mt. Pinatubo in the past 24-hour observation period.
In is latest volcano bulletin issued Thursday, April 29, Phivolcs said the active volcano remains under Alert Level 1, “which means that there is low-level unrest that may be related to tectonic processes beneath its edifice.”
However, the agency noted that “no imminent eruption is foreseen.”
“Entry into the Pinatubo Crater area must be conducted with extreme caution and should be avoided if possible,” it said.
Meanwhile, Phivolcs detected fewer earthquakes within the vicinity of Taal Volcano in the past 24 hours.
The agency’s volcano network in Taal recorded eight volcanic earthquakes, including six low frequency volcanic earthquakes, a lone hybrid earthquake and a low-level background tremor in the past 24-hour period.
Phivolcs has maintained the Alert Level 2 or “Increased Unrest” over Taal Volcano as phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur.
Based on the latest volcano bulletin, activity at Taal’s main crater consisted of weak emission of steam-laden plumes from fumaroles or gas vents that rose five meters.
The agency has also observed a significant sulfur dioxide emission that averaged 3,191 tonnes/day on April 28, while temperature highs of 71.8 degrees Celsius and pH of 1.59 were last measured from the Main Crater Lake on March 4 and February 12, respectively.
Ground deformation parameters also “continue to record a very slow and steady inflation and expansion of the Taal region that began after the January 2020 eruption” which “indicate persistent magmatic activity at shallow depths beneath the edifice.”
With this, Phivolcs advised that entry must be strictly prohibited into Taal Volcano Island, Taal’s permanent danger zone, especially the vicinities of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, as well as occupancy and boating on Taal Lake.