Taal Volcano continues to emit white to dirty white steam-laden plumes

Three weeks after it first emitted ash and steam, Taal Volcano continues to release steam-laden plumes, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said on Saturday.

"Activity in the Main Crater in the past 24 hours has been characterized by wispy to weak emission of white to dirty white steam-laden plumes 50 meters tall that drifted southwest," PHIVOLCS said in its 8 a.m. Taal Volcano Bulletin.

Alert Level 3 remains hoisted, PHIVOLCS said.

It also said the volcano's sulfur dioxide emission was at an average of 65 tonnes/day.

As for earthquakes, 182 volcanic temblors were recorded by the Taal Volcano Network over the past 24 hours, with one low-frequency event and one harmonic quake lasting 3 minutes.

PHIVOLCS said such earthquakes mean magma is still moving upward which "could lead to eruptive activity at the Main Crater."

https://t.co/8TLlN1uEr9 pic.twitter.com/oRPxSxPHWf

— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) February 1, 2020

The agency warned the public that "sudden steam-driven and even weak phreatomagmatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall, and lethal volcanic gas expulsions can still occur and threaten areas within Taal Volcano Island and nearby lakeshores."

PHIVOLCS also reminded residents that entry to Taal Volcano Island and areas over Taal Lake and communities located west of the island within a seven-kilometer radius from the main crater is strictly prohibited.

It recommended that local government units assess the areas outside the seven-kilometer radius for damage and road accessibility.

PHIVOLCS also advised LGUs to be prepared for any eventuality should the volcano's activity intensifies.

It also said residents should take the necessary precautions amid fissures, ashfall, and minor earthquakes.

"Communities beside active river channels particularly where ash from the main eruption phase has been thickly deposited should increase vigilance when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall since the ash can be washed away and form lahars along the channels," PHIVOLCS said.

Ash and ballistic fragments from the volcano may be hazardous to aircraft, it warned. —KG, GMA News