A nearly kilometer-high plume drifting northeast was recorded at Taal Volcano on Sunday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), as Kanlaon Volcano recorded three volcanic earthquakes yesterday.
As of 5 a.m., Phivolcs said the 900-meter plume emission came after “pronounced upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Main Crater Lake” of Taal Volcano in Batangas. Four volcanic earthquakes were also logged.
Both Taal and Kanlaon on Negros Island are under Alert Level 1, meaning they have “low-level unrest,” in contrast to Mayon Volcano’s current Alert Level 3, or a step below a hazardous eruption warning.
On Saturday, Taal Volcano generated 6,304 tonnes of sulfur dioxide.
The western Taal Volcano Island was also observed to have “a short-term inflation,” while its caldera “has long-term deflation on the ground.”
The acidity level at Taal’s main crater lake also remained at 0.48, while its temperature was at 74.1 degrees Celsius, the state volcanologists said.
Entry to Taal Volcano Island, which is under the Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), and flying any aircraft close to the volcano are still restricted.
Phivolcs also warned that hazards such as steam-driven or phreatic or gas-driven explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas may occur at Taal.
Meanwhile, the agency said Kanlaon’s plume was obscured, and its edifice was inflated. The last time it generated 1,089 tonnes of sulfur dioxide was on June 5.
Like Taal, entry into the four-kilometer radius PDZ of Kanlaon Volcano, and flying any aircraft close to it are prohibited. Possible hazards like sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions may also occur, according to Phivolcs.