The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Taal Volcano's sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission averaged 25,456 tons on Tuesday, Oct. 5--the highest ever recorded in Taal.
"SO2 emission has averaged 8,854 tonnes/day since 27 September 2021, from which time the volcano has fallen seismically quiet (zero volcanic earthquakes/day). Recent degassing at the Taal Main Crater has been visibly moderate to strong and generated steam-laden plumes as tall as 3,000 meters above the Taal Volcano Island or TVI," Phivolcs said in an advisory on Tuesday evening.
"A sudden inflation of TVI was detected by GPS monitoring in August 2021, which may indicate renewed pressurization of the subsurface hydrothermal system due to continuous magmatic degassing," it added.
Phivolcs reminded the public that Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 2, which means that the current SO2 parameters indicate high levels of magmatic degassing from the main crater that could drive explosive activity.
"At Alert Level 2, sudden steam- or gas-driven explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within and around TVI," it pointed out.
The volcano has been under Alert Level 2 since July 23, 2021.
Phivolcs reiterated that entry into the Taal Volcano Island, which is a permanent danger zone, especially the vicinities of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, is strictly prohibited.
Boating on Taal Lake is also be prohibited, it added.
Phivolcs advised the concerned local government units to continuously assess and strengthen the preparedness of previously evacuated barangays around Taal Lake in case of renewed unrest.