The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded Taal Volcano’s highest level of sulfur dioxide emission on Sunday, July 4.
Phivolcs Director Undersecretary Renato Solidom Jr. said the restive volcano released 22,628 tonnes per day of sulfur dioxide on July 4, the highest emission level measured to date.
This exceeded the previous high of 14,699 tonnes on Saturday, July 3.
“Ito ang pinakamataas na (This is the highest) sulfur dioxide gas measurement since we started measuring it even last year after the eruption na umabot lamang sa (which only reached) close to 5,000 ,” Solidum said in a virtual press briefing Monday, July 5.
The Phivolcs chief warned that more eruptions may occur following the high levels of sulfur dioxide emissions.
“Sa tangin natin dahil mukhang kapareho ang pattern, baka magkaroon ng explosions pa rin (Because the pattern looks the same, there might still be explosions),” Solidum said.
Taal Volcano has been placed under Alert Level 3 after a “short-lived” phreatomagmatic eruption on July 1, forcing resident in some high-risk areas to be evacuated.
Phivolcs has also monitored a 45-minute volcanic tremor within the vicinity of Taal Volcano on Monday morning.
Solidum said volcanic earthquakes has been observed amid Taal’s unrest that was slightly felt by residents on the northeastern side of the Taal Lake.
“Ngayong umaga, nagkaroon tayo ng volcanic tremor na nagtagal ng 45 minutes (This morning, we had a volcanic tremor that lasted 45 minutes),” Solidum said in a virtual press briefing Monday.
“At itong mga lindol at tremor ay nagapaphiwatig na may pagkilos ng gas o ‘di kaya’y magma (And these earthquakes and tremors indicate the movement of gas or magma),” he added.