Taal Volcano activity increases with 120 quakes, 113 tremors

LUCENA CITY — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Monday, July 6, an increase in seismic activity at Taal Volcano in Batangas over the past 24 hours.

In its morning bulletin, Phivolcs recorded 120 volcanic earthquakes and 113 episodes of volcanic tremor, each lasting one to three minutes.

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

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Phivolcs emphasized that Alert Level 1 does not mean the volcano has returned to normal conditions or that the threat of hazardous volcanic activity has disappeared.

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The agency warned that steam-driven (phreatic) eruptions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and the sudden release or accumulation of hazardous volcanic gases remain possible under the current alert level.

READ: Taal Volcano’s seismic unrest continues

The latest figures marked a significant increase from previous days. On Sunday, Phivolcs recorded 75 episodes of volcanic tremor, while on Saturday it logged 61 volcanic earthquakes and 60 episodes of volcanic tremor.

Before the recent spike, the volcano had shown relatively low activity, with only four volcanic earthquakes recorded on Friday and two on Thursday. On July 1, the agency monitored 19 volcanic earthquakes and five episodes of volcanic tremor.

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For the entire month of June, Phivolcs recorded 53 volcanic earthquakes and 13 episodes of volcanic tremor, with no seismic activity detected on eight days.

According to Phivolcs, volcanic earthquakes are generated by processes within an active volcano and are identified by their distinct seismic characteristics, including arrival times, durations, and amplitudes.

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Volcanic tremors, meanwhile, are continuous low-frequency seismic signals that may exhibit regular or irregular wave patterns.

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

During the latest monitoring period, sulfur dioxide emissions from the volcano’s main crater averaged 829 metric tons per day. The gas plume rose about 600 meters before drifting southwest. Phivolcs classified the sulfur dioxide emission rate as weak.

The agency also reported no upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Main Crater Lake and no occurrence of volcanic smog, or vog, during the monitoring period.

Phivolcs reiterated that entry into Taal Volcano Island, boating on Taal Lake, and flying aircraft close to the volcano remain prohibited because of the continuing risk of sudden eruptions and other volcanic hazards.

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Taal Volcano last erupted on Jan. 12, 2020, ending 43 years of relative quiet after its previous major eruption in 1977. /mcm