The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has logged four short phreatomagmatic bursts in Taal Volcano.

In its 11 p.m. volcano bulletin, Phivolcs said the phreatomagmatic bursts which lasted not longer than two minutes each produced short jetted plumes that rose 200 meters above the Main Crater Lake.

“These events occurred at 6:26 p.m., 7:21 p.m., 7:41 p.m. and 8:20 p.m.,” it said.

State seismologists also detected the “ongoing” upwelling of the Main Crater Lake that began at 8:07 p.m.

Phivolcs has placed Taal Volcano under Alert Level 3, which “means there is ongoing magmatic intrusion at the Main Crater that may further drive succeeding eruptions.”

Alert 3 or magmatic unrest was raised over Taal Volcano at 3:37 p.m., July 1, after a phreatomagmatic eruption from the Main Crater occured at 3:16 p.m.

A phreatomagmatic eruption occurs when new magma interacts with water.

Phivolcs has strongly recommended that the Taal Volcano Island and high-risk barangays of BIlibinwang and Banyaga, Agoncillo, and Boso-boso, Gulod and eastern Bugaan East, Laurel, Batangas province be evacuated due to the possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami should stronger eruptions subsequently occur.

“The public is reminded that the entire Taal Volcano island is a permanent danger zone (PDZ), and entry into the island as well as high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel must be prohibited,” Phivolcs said.

Communities around the Taal Lake shore were advised to remain vigilant , take precautionary measures against possible airborne ash and vog and calmly prepare for possible evacuation should unrest intensify.

“Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying over Taal Volcano as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and pyroclastic density currents such as base surges may pose hazards to aircraft.”