ALERT LEVEL 3 | Philippines raises Taal Volcano to alert level 3 due to magmatic unrest

July 1, 2021 , 05:24 PM

By Beatrice Puente, News5 Digital

(July 1, 2021) – The state volcanology agency has raised alert level 3 in the country’s most active volcano, south of the capital, after observing short phreatic explosions on Thursday afternoon.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Taal Volcano has been showing increased unrest days after emitting sulfur dioxide as well as magmatic activities. It warned of possible eruptions as magma continued to move up to the volcano’s main crater.

“At 3:16 p.m., Taal Volcano main crater generated a short-lived dark phreatomagmatic plume 1 kilometer-high with no accompanying volcanic earthquake,” Phivolcs said in a bulletin.

LOOK: Phreatomagmatic eruption of Taal Volcano from 3:16 PM – 3:21 PM today, viewed from the Main Crater station.

Posted by Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS-DOST) on Thursday, July 1, 2021

“Phivolcs strongly recommends Taal Volcano Island and high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel, Batangas be evacuated due to the possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami.”

Taal Volcano, located 60 kilometers south of Metro Manila, erupted in January last year affecting more than 400,000 residents in Batangas and nearby provinces. Officials have designated the Taal Volcano Island as a permanent danger zone to avoid major casualties in times of possible volcanic eruption.

Last March, Taal Volcano started acting up again so it was placed under alert level 2, advising the public to closely monitor advisories to prepare for any changes in the situation.

It has emitted sulfur dioxide over the weekend which could be hazardous to public health in areas near the volcano. Volcanic fog can be highly dangerous especially for people with comorbidities, senior citizens, children, as well as pregnant women.

Taal’s volcanic smog also reached provinces in Southern Tagalog, Metro Manila, and even Central Luzon. Phivolcs initially said the haze in the capital was due to man-made pollution but they eventually clarified their statement.

“As a scientific institution, we have been reminded again of the value of uncertainty and the limitations of our data, the value of citizen observation and the need to constantly challenge our own perceptions, interpretations and ideas,” Phivolcs said in a Facebook post.

“We would like to reassure the public that we are committed to provide the best and most current volcano monitoring data available, especially that these have important safety and health implications.”

(MM)

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