Phivolcs detects more quakes in Taal Volcano; gas emission level drops
Residents go on their daily life amid volcanic smog or vog from Taal Volcano in Agoncillo, Batangas., on August 19, 2024 Classes were suspended on some towns in the province due to the vog. The observed Metro Manila “haze” is “likely due to local pollutants” and not vog from Taal Volcano, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
LUCENA CITY — At least 11 volcanic earthquakes in Taal Volcano in Batangas province were detected over the last 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Wednesday morning, Dec. 25.
The earthquakes on Tuesday were accompanied by seven volcanic tremors that lasted three to five minutes, Phivolcs sa id in its bulletin.
Earthquakes and tremors continued to be recorded in Taal Volcano in the past several days, Phivolcs reported.
On Monday, Dec. 23, the state volcanologists detected six tremors that lasted five to eight minutes.
READ: Phivolcs: Tremors continue in Taal Volcano
Article continues after this advertisementThe day before, the volcano logged four volcanic earthquakes accompanied by three tremors that lasted three to five minutes.
Article continues after this advertisementOn Saturday, six earthquakes and five tremors lasting three to six minutes were also detected.
On Friday the volcano recorded three tremors that lasted three to 39 minutes.
The state seismologist defined volcanic earthquakes as those that come from an active volcano and are distinguished by their “mode of arrivals, periods, amplitudes, etc.”
Volcanic tremors are “continuous seismic signals with regular or irregular sine wave appearance and low frequencies.”
Meanwhile, after spewing an alarmingly high volume of sulfur dioxide (SO2) for the past week, the emissions from Taal Volcano of harmful gas has dramatically subsided, the Phivolcs reported.
On Monday and Tuesday, only 1,181 metric tons (MT) of SO2 from Taal Volcano’s main crater was measured.
It was significantly lower than the 8,322 MT of SO2 logged from Dec. 16 to 23.
The agency noted that Taal Volcano has an average of about 6,057 tonnes/day for the year and has continuously degassed voluminous concentrations of SO2 since 2021.
It emphasized that degassing of high concentrations of volcanic SO2 “continues to pose the threat of potential long-term health impacts to communities around Taal Caldera that are frequently exposed to volcanic gas.”
During the latest observation period, no upwelling of hot volcanic fluids was observed in the Main Crater Lake, locally known as Pulo, which lies at the center of Taal Lake.
No “vog” (volcanic smog) was also reported.
Taal Volcano is still under alert level 1 (low level of volcanic unrest), Phivolcs said.
The agency reminded the public that Taal Volcano remained in an “abnormal condition” and “should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity.”
