The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has raised Alert Level 3 over Taal Volcano following a phreatomagmatic eruption.
“This is a notice of increasing activity at Taal Volcano,” Phivolcs said in a statement.
“At 0722H PST, Taal Volcano Main Crater generated a short-lived phreatomagmatic burst which was followed by nearly continuous phreatomagmatic activity that generated plumes 1500 m accompanied by volcanic earthquake and infrasound signals,” it added.
Alert Level 3 means “magmatic intrusion at the Main Crater that may further drive succeeding eruptions.”
Phivolc director Renato Solidum said that eruptions this time may not be as strong as the January 2020 eruption.
“Kumpara noong January 2020, dahan-dahan umaakyat ang magma….Hindi na masyadong explosive ang eruptions na nakikita natin compared noong January 2020,” he said.
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“Ang kailangan pa naming gawin ay bantayan kung may magma na manggagaling sa ilalim at kung gaano kabilis umakyat. Kasi kung mas mabilis ang pag-akyat ng magma, dun nati-trigger ang mas malakas na eruption,” Solidum added.
Under this alert level all activities at Taal Lake are prohibited.
“Communities around the Taal Lake shores are advised to remain vigilant, take precautionary measures against possible airborne ash and vog and calmly prepare for possible evacuation should unrest intensify,” said Phivolcs.
“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,” it added.
