The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has recorded three new phreatomagmatic bursts from Taal Volcano’s main crater on Thursday morning, March 31.

In its volcano bulletin issued on Friday, April 1, Phivolcs said the bursts, caused by hot magma coming into contact with groundwater, occurred at 10:39 a.m., 10:47 a.m., and 10:55 a.m. on Thursday and produced plumes 500 meters to 900 meters high.

In the past 24 hours, Phivolcs also recorded 13 volcanic earthquakes from Taal, which include three volcanic tremor events that lasted two to three minutes, and 10 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes.

The upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Taal Lake still dominated the activity at the volcano’s main crater, which generated plumes 2,000 meters high.

Moreover, Taal Volcano released an average of 7,856 tons per day of sulfur dioxide (SO2) on March 31.

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.