By Ellalyn de Vera Ruiz Fissures along the Daang Kastila trail of the Taal Volcano continued to emit steam on Sunday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The main crater of the Taal Volcano is seen during an aerial survey done by government officials, more than a week after the eruption of Taal Volcano in Batgangas. (Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN/ FILE) In its latest bulletin, Phivolcs observed weak steaming from fissures along the Daang Kastila trail that rose to 10 to 20 meters high. The main crater also manifested moderate emission white- to dirty-white steam-laden plumes that reached 200 to 300 meters high before drifting southwest. Phivolcs also noted that the volcano has continued to emit sulfur dioxide at an average of 116 tons per day since February 8. The presence of significant sulfur dioxide from a volcano indicates that magma is still getting closer to the surface. During the past 24 hours, the Taal Volcano Network recorded 115 volcanic earthquakes including two low-frequency events and five harmonic tremors having durations of one to four minutes. Phivolcs said the volcanic earthquakes signify magmatic activity beneath the Taal Volcano's edifice that could lead to eruptive activity at its main crater. Alert Level 3 remains in effect over Taal Volcano, which means that sudden steam-driven and even weak phreatomagmatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall, and lethal volcanic gas expulsions can still occur and threaten areas within the Taal Volcano Island and nearby lakeshores. Phivolcs recommended that entry into the Taal Volcano island, Taal Lake, and communities west of the volcano island within a 7 kilometer-radius from the main crater must be strictly prohibited. Local government units were advised to assess areas outside the seven-kilometer radius for damages and road accessibilities and to strengthen preparedness, contingency and communication measures in case of renewed unrest. People were also advised to observe precautions due to ground displacement across fissures, frequent ashfall and minor earthquakes. Communities beside active river channels particularly where ash from the main eruption phase has been thickly deposited should increase vigilance when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall since the ash can be washed away and form lahars along the channels. Likewise, civil aviation authorities were asked to advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and wind-remobilized ash may pose hazards to aircraft.