The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded two more phreatomagmatic events in Taal Volcano Sunday morning, March 27, following the phreatomagmatic eruption on March 26.

Seismic records and visual camera around Taal Volcano recorded the phreatomagmatic eruption on Sunday, occurring at 4:34 a.m. and 5:04 a.m. and produced 800-meter and 400-meter-high plumes, respectively.

Taal Volcano also had a phreatomagmatic eruption on Saturday that occurred at 7:22 a.m. to 8:59 a.m.

Science and Technology Undersecretary and Phivolcs OIC Renato Solidum Jr. explained in a press briefing on Saturday that the short-lived phreatomagmatic explosion was caused by the intrusion of magma in the shallow part of the crater and interaction with Taal Lake’s water.

Phivolcs also monitored volcanic earthquakes, including 10 volcanic tremor events having durations of two to three minutes, and four low-frequency volcanic earthquakes in Taal Volcano in the past 24 hours.

It said that the activity at the Taal Volcano main crater was still dominated by the upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in its lake, which generated plumes 1,000 meters high.

Due to Taal Volcano’s increasing unrest, Phivolcs raised the active volcano’s alert level to 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.