A 2,100-meter-high steam plume was observed emanating from the Taal Volcano in Batangas the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Sunday, Aug. 14.
In its 8 a.m. bulletin, Phivolcs noted the occurrence of a 2,100-meter or 2.1-kilometer tall “voluminous” emission of steam-laden plume.
The upwelling of hot volcanic fluids also continued, causing volcanic smog or “vog” over the Taal Volcano and neighboring communities.
Phivolcs said Taal’s sulfur dioxide or SO2 emission averaged 3,945 tons per day, as of Aug. 13—down from 13,572 tons per day on Aug. 11.
Meanwhile, no volcanic earthquake was detected over the past 24 hours.
Phivolcs said Taal Volcano remained under Alert Level 1, which means it was still in an abnormal condition and should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity.
“Should an uptrend or pronounced change in monitored parameters forewarn of renewed unrest, the Alert Level may be raised back to Alert Level 2,” it said.
“Conversely, should there be a return of monitoring parameters to baseline levels after a sufficient observation period, the Alert Level will be further lowered to Alert Level 0,” it pointed out.
Under Alert Level 1, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within the Taal Volcano Island (TVI).
“Phivolcs strongly recommends that entry into TVI, Taal’s permanent danger zone or PDZ, especially the vicinities of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, must remain strictly prohibited,” it said.