Phivolcs logs 164 earthquakes in Taal Volcano

March 18 ------ The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has detected 164 volcanic earthquakes in its 24-hour monitoring of Taal Volcano in Batangas. In its volcano bulletin issued Thursday, March 18, the quakes included 67 volcanic tremor episodes, which lasted between one to two minutes, and three hybrid events. Phivolcs said activity in Taal’s main crated consisted of weak emission of steam-laden plumes from fumarolic vents that rose 20 meters high.

Moreover, the agency also observed sulfur dioxide emission that averaged 605 tons/day on March 17. Temperature highs of 71.8 degrees Celsius and pH of 1.59 were measured from the main crater last March 4 and Feb. 12, respectively. Ground deformation parameters also indicated a “very slow and steady inflation and expansion of the Taal region since after the January 2020 eruption.” “These parameters may indicate increased magmatic activity at shallow depths beneath the edifice,” it said.

Phivolcs said Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 2 due to “increased unrest.” State seismologists warned that sudden phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations of expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within the Taal Volcano island. The agency has urged the public to prevent from entering the volcano island, especially in the vicinities of the main crater and Daang Kastila fissure.

Source: mb.com.ph