Taal Volcano's toxic gas emissions drop, seismic activity eases

LUCENA CITY, Quezon – Taal Volcano in Batangas continued to show signs of reduced volcanic activity after both sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions and seismic activity declined significantly over the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported Thursday.

In its morning bulletin, Phivolcs measured 250 metric tons of sulfur dioxide emissions from the volcano’s main crater, with the volcanic plume rising about 500 meters before drifting southwest.

READ: Taal calms down as fewer volcanic earthquakes, tremors recorded

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The latest SO₂ emission was significantly lower than the 829 metric tons recorded daily from July 2 to 7.

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Seismic activity also remained subdued, with Phivolcs recording only one volcanic earthquake during the monitoring period. The latest figure marked a sharp decline from the heightened volcanic unrest observed earlier this week.

Seismic activity peaked on July 6, when the agency recorded 120 volcanic earthquakes and 113 volcanic tremors. The numbers fell to 27 earthquakes and 22 tremors on July 7, then declined to 8 volcanic earthquakes on July 8 before dropping to just 1 the next day.

READ: Taal Volcano activity increases with 120 quakes, 113 tremors

According to Phivolcs, volcanic earthquakes are generated by processes occurring beneath or within an active volcano and are identified through their seismic wave characteristics. Volcanic tremors, meanwhile, are continuous low-frequency seismic signals that may indicate the movement of volcanic fluids.

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Taal Volcano is located on Volcano Island, locally known as “Pulo,” in the middle of Taal Lake.

During the latest monitoring period, Phivolcs observed no upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the main crater and detected no volcanic smog, or “vog,” in the area.

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

Phivolcs reminded the public that Alert Level 1 does not mean the volcano has returned to its normal state or that the possibility of an eruption has been eliminated, stressing that Taal remains in an abnormal condition./coa

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