The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has not detected a volcanic earthquake from Taal Volcano, but remained under Alert Level 3 because of continuous “magmatic unrest” in the past 24 hours.
In its bulletin issued on Monday, March 28, Phivolcs said the upwelling of hot volcanic fluids dominated the activity at the Taal Volcano Main Crater’s lake which generated plumes one-kilometer-high.
“Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission averaged 1,140 tons per day on 27 March 2022. Temperature highs of 63.7°C were last measured from the Main Crater Lake on 25 February 2022,” Phivolcs said.
“Based on ground deformation parameters from electronic tilt, continuous GPS and InSAR monitoring, Taal Volcano Island and the Taal region have begun deflating in October 2021,” it added.
Due to Taal Volcano’s increasing unrest, Phivolcs raised the active volcano’s alert status to Level 3 on March 26.
“This means that there is a magmatic intrusion at the Main Crater that may further drive succeeding eruptions,” Phivolcs said.
It “strongly” recommended the evacuation of those in Taal Volcano Island and high-risk barangays of Bilibinwang and Banyaga in Agoncillo town and Boso-boso, Gulod, and eastern Bugaan East in Laurel town, both in the province of Batangas due to the “possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami should stronger eruptions subsequently occur.”
Phivolcs also reminded the public that the entire Taal Volcano Island is a permanent danger zone, and entry into the island and high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel must be prohibited.
All activities on Taal Lake should not be allowed, Phivolcs said.
Likewise, communities around the Taal Lake shores were advised to remain vigilant, take precautionary measures against possible airborne ash and vog or volcanic smog and calmly prepare for possible evacuation should unrest intensify.
“Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying over Taal Volcano Island as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and pyroclastic density currents such as base surges may pose hazards to aircraft,” Phivolcs said.