Taal Volcano recorded six volcanic earthquakes in the last 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Saturday.
Based on the 8 a.m. bulletin released on 13 August, it includes one volcanic tremor with a duration of three minutes to seven minutes. The state-seismology bureau also said the volcano spewed 13,572 tonnes of sulfur dioxide per day and steam of up to 3,000 meters.
Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum told a radio interview that Taal Volcano does not show that it will erupt soon.
“So far we have not observed the upward movement of new magma from below. If there are initial explosions at Taal, these are minor ones,” Solidum told DZBB.
“The alert level has to reach 3 or 4 for us to say that there is a possibility of danger,” he added.
They reminded the public that under Alert Level 1, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas around the volcano.
The state-seismology bureau also strongly recommends that entry into Taal Volcano Island, Taal’s Permanent Danger Zone or PDZ, especially the vicinities of the Main Crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, must remain strictly prohibited.
“Local government units are advised to continuously assess previously evacuated barangays around Taal Lake for damages and road accessibilities and to strengthen preparedness, contingency and communication measures in case of renewed unrest,” Phivolcs said.
“People are also advised to observe precautions due to ground displacement across fissures, possible ashfall and minor earthquakes. 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 aircrafts,” it added.