10 quakes recorded at Taal in 24 hours
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Sat, 30 Mar 2019 06:29:28 +0000
Ten volcanic earthquakes were recorded at Taal Volcano in the last 24 hours, but hazardous eruption is not imminent.
Aside from increased volcanic earthquakes, Taal Volcano has manifested abnormal activities in the past few days, based on the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology monitoring.
Field measurements last March 28 at the eastern sector of Taal Volcano’s main crater lake yielded an increase in water temperature from 30.7 degrees Celsius to 31.7°C, a decrease in water level from 0.46 meter to 0.41 meter, and increase in acidity from pH 2.95 to pH 2.67.
Phivolcs also measured ground deformation through precise leveling surveys from March 18 to 27, which indicated slight inflation of the edifice consistent with recent results from continuous Global Positioning System data.
Last Thursday, Phivolcs raised Taal’s alert status level from zero to one due to the abnormal condition of the volcano. However, it clarified that Alert Level 1 means “hazardous eruption is not imminent.”
The public was reminded that the main crater should be strictly off-limits because sudden steam explosions can occur and high concentrations of lethal volcanic gases can be released. (Ellalyn V. Ruiz)