A family visiting Tagaytay took a video of steam or smoke rising from Taal Volcano. The volcano remains on Alert Level 2 (Increased Unrest) according to @phivolcs_dost. [https://t.co/OaUA3QmSk6] pic.twitter.com/CWE5N56kPa
— BusinessWorld (@bworldph) February 17, 2022
TAAL VOLCANO generated six volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours, including four volcanic tremors lasting one to four minutes, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Thursday morning.
“Activity at the Main Crater was dominated by upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in its lake which generated plumes 900 meters tall that drifted southwest,” Phivolcs said in a bulletin posted on its website on Thursday.
The institute’s daily summary of volcanic activity described the plumes to be moderate, compared to the weak emissions the day before.
Taal’s alert status remains at level 2 of a five-step system, which means probable activity, including “sudden steam- or gas-driven explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas.”
Entry into the island is prohibited, especially around the main crater, the agency said.
Seismologists advised local government to continuously assess and strengthen the preparedness of previously evacuated barangays around Taal Lake in case of unrest.
Meanwhile, civil aviation authorities must 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.
Phivolcs said it was closely monitoring Taal Volcano’s activity. — Brontë H. Lacsamana
