The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) continues to observe steam plumes rising out of Taal Volcano in Batangas caused by the "upwelling of hot volcanic fluids" in its crater.

"Activity at the main crater was dominated by upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in its lake which generated plumes that reached 2,000 meters tall before drifting to the southwest," Phivolcs said in its volcano bulletin issued on Saturday, May 29.

While Phivolcs did not detect volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours, a low-level background tremor was ongoing since April 8.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission also remains high as it averaged 3,248 tonnes per day on Friday, May 28.

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.

It pointed out that these parameters continue to indicate a persistent magmatic activity at shallow depths beneath the Taal Volcano.

Taal Volcano's status remains under Alert Level 2 due to possible sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas that threaten areas within and around the Taal Volcano Island.

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.