The possibility of raising Taal Volcano’s status to Alert Level 4 is still not that high, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Saturday, March 26.

Phivolcs on Saturday morning raised Alert Level 3 over Taal Volcano following the occurrence of phreatomagmatic eruption that generated a 1.5-kilometer-high plume of smoke with ash.

Science and Technology Undersecretary and Phivolcs OIC Renato Solidum Jr. said the short-lived phreatomagmatic explosion was caused by the intrusion of magma in the shallow part of the crater and interaction with groundwater.

“Mukhang nata-trap at naiipon nang konti yung sulfur dioxide gas (The sulfur dioxide and magma look like they are being trapped and accumulating) that’s why we have this explosion,” Solidum said.

The event started with a phreatomagmatic burst at 7:22 a.m., followed by phreatomagmatic eruption from 7:33 a.m. to 8:59 a.m.

“Alert level may be sustained if similar phreatomagmatic activity recurs or the alert level may be stepped down to Alert Level 2 if no phreatomagmatic activity occurs in the next two weeks. This is our standard operating procedure for decreasing the alert level,” Phivolcs chief science research specialist Ma. Antonia Bornas said in a virtual press briefing.

“There is also a likelihood of raising the alert level to 4 if renewed magma intrusion from the deep magma reservoir of Taal, which we detected in 2020 is detected,” she added.

However, Bornas pointed out that the likelihood of raising the alert level to 4 at present “seems to not be really high.”

“As we have been explaining last year for initial activities of Taal, we don’t expect it to be like the January 2020 eruption because of the lesser amount of sulfur dioxide gas trapped within the magma,” Solidum said.

“For the worse case activity, we need to monitor deeper magma that would rise, if it ascends rapidly then doon posible mag-trigger ng mas malalakas na eruption (then there is a possibility that stronger eruptions will be triggered) because the gas is somewhat reserved within,” he added.

Evacuation in high-risk areas ‘strongly recommended’

Because of Taal Volcano’s increasing unrest, Phivolcs recommended the evacuation of high-risk barangays of Agoncillo town, namely Banyaga and Bilibinwang, and Laurel town, namely Boso-boso, Gulod, and eastern Bugaan East.

“All the restrictions will now be focused on Taal Volcano Island at yung limang barangay na nabanggit (and the five barangays we have mentioned). All the rest of the towns and villages outside the Taal Lake, people can still go and visit,” Solidum said.

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.