Taal Volcano emits more sulfur dioxide; Alert Level 2 remains

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Tuesday said Taal Volcano emitted more sulfur dioxide or SO2 on Monday, but added that Alert Level 2 remains.

"Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission averaged 14,326 tonnes/day on 28 June 2021," PHIVOLCS said.

This was much higher than the SO2 emission on June 27 which averaged 4,771 tonnes/day.

On Monday PHIVOLCS said volcanic smog or vog was seen over the Taal Volcano caldera.

This is due to the continued emission of volcanic sulfur dioxide (SO2) from the main crater, it said.

On Tuesday, there was still vog on Taal Volcano Island, according to PHIVOLCS-Taal Volcano Observatory resident volcanologist Paolo Reniva.

"Sa ngayon, may nao-observe pa rin tayong vog pero limited sa Volcano Island," he said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

Reniva: Sa ngayon, may nao-observe pa rin tayong vog pero limited sa Volcano Island.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 29, 2021

PHIVOLCS on Tuesday also said 10 volcanic earthquakes and low-level background tremor were observed in the past 24 hours.

There were also steam-rich plumes that rose to as high as 2,500 feet above the main crater.

Deflation was noted to still be continuing on Taal Volcano Island.

"Based on ground deformation parameters from electronic tilt, continuous GPS and InSAR monitoring, Taal Volcano Island (TVI) has begun deflating in April 2021 while the Taal region continues to undergo very slow extension since 2020," PHIVOLCS said.

"These parameters indicate overall that magmatic unrest continues to occur at shallow depths beneath the edifice," it added.

BULKANG TAAL
Buod ng 24 oras na pagmamanman
29 Hunyo 2021 alas-5 ng umaga #TaalVolcanohttps://t.co/iMO4vH2dCk pic.twitter.com/aJkCcmh4Rx

— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) June 29, 2021

Alert Level 2 (Increased Unrest) remains hoisted on Tuesday over the volcano.

With this, PHIVOLCS reminded the public that "sudden steam- or gas-driven explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within and around TVI."

TVI should still be off-limits, and boating on Taal Lake should be prohibited, it said.

PHIVOLCS also advised pilots to refrain from flying close to Taal Volcano. —KG, GMA News