Photo courtesy of Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Taal Volcano in Batangas has experienced an increase in seismic activity, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Monday.
The agency recorded 23 volcanic tremors in the past 24 hours, each lasting around two to three minutes. It also noted 11 volcanic earthquakes on Jan. 25, following nine recorded the day before.
Seismic activity from Jan. 12 to 23 had been lower, with only 25 volcanic earthquakes and 10 tremors reported over the 12-day period.
Phivolcs explained that volcanic earthquakes are caused by internal processes within the volcano, characterized by distinct seismic waves and patterns, while volcanic tremors are continuous low-frequency signals that can appear in regular or irregular forms.
During the latest monitoring, Taal released an estimated 271 metric tons of sulfur dioxide, considered a weak emission. No signs of rising hot volcanic fluids were observed in the main crater lake, and no volcanic smog was detected.
The volcano remains at Alert Level 1, indicating a low level of volcanic unrest, but authorities continue to advise nearby residents to remain alert.
Phivolcs emphasized that the current activity should not be taken as a signal that the volcano’s unrest has stopped, cautioning that eruptive activity could still occur in the future.
