The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) continues to warn the public against possible sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas at the Taal Volcano.

This was due to the restive volcano's continuous "increased unrest," Phivolcs said in a volcano bulletin issued on Tuesday, May 25.

In the past 24 hours, Phivolcs was not able to detect volcanic earthquakes but a low-level background tremor has persisted since April 8.

It noted that the activity at the main crater was "dominated by upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in its lake which generated plumes that reached one-kilometer high before drifting to the southwest."

Moreover, sulfur dioxide emission has increased on Monday, May 24 to 4,317 tonnes per day from 3,298 tonnes per day on Sunday, May 23.

Meanwhile, temperature highs of 71.8°C and pH of 1.59 were last measured from the main crater lake on March 4, 2021 and Feb. 12, 2021, respectively.

"Ground deformation parameters from electronic tilt, continuous GPS and InSAR monitoring continue to record a very slow and steady inflation and expansion of the Taal region that began after the January 2020 eruption," Phivolcs said.

These parameters continue to indicate a persistent magmatic activity at shallow depths beneath the Taal Volcano.

As it continues to show signs of elevated unrest, Taal Volcano's status remains under Alert Level 2.

The restive volcano in Batangas has been under Alert Level 2 since March 9, 2021.

Phivolcs reiterated that entry into the volcano island, which is a permanent danger zone, especially the vicinities of the main crater and Daang Kastila fissure, is strictly prohibited.