Taal Volcano logs 61 quakes, 60 tremors in 24 hours

LUCENA CITY — Taal Volcano in Batangas showed renewed signs of unrest after a sharp increase in seismic activity over the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Saturday, July 4.

According to Phivolcs’ morning bulletin, the volcano recorded 61 volcanic earthquakes and 60 volcanic tremors, each lasting between one and three minutes.

The spike followed relatively low seismic activity over the previous two days, when only four volcanic earthquakes were recorded on Friday and two on Thursday. On July 1, however, Phivolcs logged 19 volcanic earthquakes and five volcanic tremors.

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READ: Taal Volcano’s seismic activity surges after twin eruptions

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The increase in seismic activity came days after two phreatomagmatic eruptions were recorded on June 30, bringing the total number of such events at Taal Volcano to five in June.

For the entire month of June, Phivolcs recorded 53 volcanic earthquakes and 13 volcanic tremors. The agency also noted that no seismic activity was detected on eight days during the month.

Phivolcs explained that volcanic earthquakes are generated by magma-related processes beneath or near an active volcano, unlike tectonic earthquakes, which are caused by movement along faults.

Volcanic tremors, meanwhile, are continuous low-frequency seismic signals that may result from the movement of magma or volcanic gases through cracks and vents, overlapping low-frequency earthquakes, or eruptive activity.

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Despite the heightened seismic activity, Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 1, indicating low-level volcanic unrest.

Phivolcs emphasized that the alert status does not mean the volcano has returned to normal or that the possibility of hazardous activity has passed.

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The agency reiterated that entry to Taal Volcano Island, locally known as the “Pulo,” as well as boating on Taal Lake and flying aircraft close to the volcano, remain strictly prohibited because of the continuing threat of sudden steam-driven or phreatomagmatic eruptions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and hazardous volcanic gas emissions.

In its latest bulletin, Phivolcs also reported a moderate sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rate of 829 metric tons per day. The volcanic plume rose about 600 meters above the main crater before drifting west-northwest and northwest.

No volcanic smog (vog) or upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Main Crater Lake was observed during the monitoring period.

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Situated in the middle of Taal Lake, Taal Volcano is the country’s second most active volcano, with 38 recorded historical eruptions. /das