Taal Volcano jolts Batangas with 74 quakes, 4 tremors in 24 hours
Taal Volcano as seen from Tagaytay City (Photo from JILLIAN DUMAS)
LUCENA CITY — Taal Volcano in Batangas province went active again in the past 24 hours, recording 74 volcanic earthquakes and 4 volcanic tremors.
Such a situation indicates a continued rise in seismic activity, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported Friday, May 2.
In its morning bulletin, Phivolcs said the volcanic tremors on May 1 lasted two to three minutes.
The number of seismic events surpassed the 64 volcanic earthquakes recorded on April 30, which were accompanied by five volcanic tremors.
During the month of April, Taal Volcano logged a total of 283 volcanic earthquakes and 55 volcanic tremors, Phivolcs data showed.
The agency said the data suggest ongoing magmatic activity beneath or near the volcano.
Phivolcs explained that volcanic earthquakes are “generated by magmatic processes” beneath or near an active volcano, differing from “tectonic earthquakes, which are produced by faulting.”
Volcanic tremors, meanwhile, are “continuous seismic signals with low frequencies, typically ranging from 0.5 to 5 Hz, that can last longer than a minute.”
These tremors may result from the flow of magma or magmatic gas through cracks and vents, overlapping low-frequency earthquakes or minor eruptions, Phivolcs said.
In its latest bulletin, Phivolcs recorded the emission of 1,213 metric tons of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) from Taal’s main crater. The emission was classified as “weak.”
No upwelling of hot volcanic fluids or “vog” (volcanic smog) was observed during the latest monitoring, the agency said.
Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 1 (low level of volcanic unrest), which indicates some abnormal activities.
These activities include a slight increase in volcanic earthquakes and steam/gas activity, sporadic explosions from existing or new vents, a notable increase in the temperature of hot springs, slight inflation or swelling of the edifice, and hydrothermal, magmatic, or tectonic disturbances.
Phivolcs reminded the public that entry to Taal Volcano Island, boating activities on Taal Lake, and flying aircraft near the volcano remain strictly prohibited.
Taal Volcano, which sits in the middle of Taal Lake in the province of Batangas, is the second most active volcano in the country, with 38 recorded historical eruptions.
The most active volcano in the Philippines is Mayon Volcano in Albay province, with over 50 recorded eruptions in the past 500 years.
