Earthquakes, Sulfur Emissions Detected In Taal Volcano; Violent Eruption Still Possible

An agency monitoring seismic and volcanic activities in the Philippines has detected earthquakes, magmatic movement and sulfur emissions from Taal Volcano. According to the agency, these volcanic activities mean that a violent eruption is still possible.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has been closely monitoring Taal Volcano following its phreatic eruption on Jan. 12, which rained heavy ashfall in the cities and provinces surrounding it.

Over the past couple of weeks, the volcano’s activity has subsided. This prompted PHIVOLCS to lower Taal’s Alert Level status from 4 to 3, which means that the threat of a violent eruption has decreased. After the status was downgraded, the lockdown on many areas surrounding the volcano was lifted, allowing residents to return to their homes.

In addition to the removal of the lockdown, the established danger zone around the volcano was decreased from 14 to 7 kilometers. Although volcanic activity has lessened, PHIVOLCS maintained that it will still monitor the volcano in case its status changes.

The agency reported through a bulletin on Wednesday morning that it has detected a total of 137 volcanic earthquakes and harmonic tremors around the volcano. According to PHIVOLCS, the seismic activity indicates that the magma underneath Taal is still active and moving.

Aside from the earthquakes, the agency also detected sulfur dioxide emissions coming from the volcano. According to PHIVOLCS, the level of emission jumped to 64 tons per day on Wednesday compared to almost zero on Tuesday. Plumes of steam have also started rising from the volcano’s main crater in the last couple of days.

Due to the sudden increase in activity, PHIVOLCS warned that an eruption is still possible. If these activities continue within the next couple of days, the agency will most likely raise the volcano’s Alert Level status to 4, which means that an eruption could occur within anytime soon.

“The network, which can record small earthquakes undetectable by the Philippine Seismic Network (PSN), recorded 137 volcanic earthquakes including two low-frequency events and one harmonic tremor that lasted for 97 seconds,” the agency said in a statement to GMA News Online.

“These earthquakes signify magmatic activity beneath the Taal edifice that could lead to eruptive activity at the main crater,” PHIVOLCS added.