By ALEXANDRIA SAN JUAN
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology yesterday noted an increase in the steam and sulfur dioxide emissions in Taal Volcano.
The threat of a dangerous Taal eruption remains as Alert Level 4 is still up.
State volcanologists said Taal belched weak to moderate white steam-laden plumes to 100 to 800 meters high yesterday, from 50 to 500 meters last Friday, in the main crater that drifted southwest.
Sulfur dioxide emission increased yesterday to an average of 409 tons per day from the 224 tons per day the other day.
Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division chief Mariton Bornas had earlier explained that the increase in steam signifies that there is boiling of groundwater inside the volcano caused by the magma that has reached near the surface.
“Mayroon na talagang magma na umakyat na at ito ang binabantayan natin. Ang groundwater ay naiinitan ng magma at dahil napaka-init nito, ibinubuga ito bilang steam,” Bornas explained.
The intensified steaming activity was first observed by Phivolcs last Friday when Taal spewed a darker ash cloud which volcanologists said was normal as it was just the mixing of old ash deposits from the volcano.
Levels of sulfur dioxide, a major gas component of magma, decreased for three days from Tuesday to Thursday, and have been fluctuating since it was first recorded on Jan. 13, reaching as high as over 5,000 tons per day.
According to the United States Geological Survey, sulfur dioxide indicates that magma is near the surface and could be a sign that the volcano will erupt soon.
A decrease in the number of volcanic quakes was noted in the past 24 hours as the Philippine Seismic Network plotted six volcanic earthquakes that registered at magnitudes 1.5 to 2.3 with no felt event.
The Taal Volcano Network, which can record small earthquakes, on the other hand, detected 420 volcanic tremors, including 11 low-frequency earthquakes.
Phivolcs said that continuous volcanic earthquakes near the volcano island signify that there is a movement of magma underneath Taal edifice and may lead to a further eruption.
Phivolcs strongly reiterated the total evacuation of Taal Volcano Island and high-risk areas as identified in the hazard maps within the 14-kilometer radius, from Taal main crater and on the Pansipit River Valley where fissuring has been observed.
Hazard map developed by Phivolcs showed among the high-risk areas susceptible to deadly volcanic hazards such as base surge are Agoncillo, Alitagtag, Balete, Cuenca, Laurel, Lemery, Lipa City, Malvar, Mataas na Kahoy, San Nicolas, Sta. Teresita, San Nicolas, Taal, Talisay, and Tanauan City in Batangas.
Residents around the volcano were advised to guard against the effects of heavy and prolonged ash fall.
Meanwhile, the continuing unrest of Taal Volcano has so far displaced 90,533 families as of yesterday.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said this is equivalent 348,563 residents in Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, and Quezon.
It said that 37,445 families or 137,994 persons are still being sheltered in 488 evacuation centers while the remaining are taking shelter with relatives and friends.
The amount of assistance extended by the Departments of Social Welfare and Development and Health has now reached P27,056,685.01.
