PHIVOLCS: Taal Volcano Lulls, Still Remains Alert Level 4
PHIVOLCS – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said that Taal Volcano still remains under Alert Level 4.
The institute’s chief of Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division Ma. Antonia Bornas said yesterday that they are also considering looking at the possibility that the volcano’s activity could have decreased and if the alert level can be lowered if there is a lull for a long period.
“During a prolonged activity of the volcano –and it happens that there are lull moments – residents who earlier evacuated got restless and started going back to check on their homes. That is why we have this consideration of checking on the possibility if the alert level can be lowered,”
According to PhilStar, the volcano is still under Alert Level 4. This will still mean that hazardous explosive eruption might occur within hours or days. For the current situation, however, raising the alert level is not appropriate.
“At this stage, we are not discounting the possibility that a hazardous explosion of Taal Volcano could take place, though we are also looking on a possible lull of surface activity of the volcano for a long period,”
“Activity in the past 24 hours has generally waned to weak emission of steam-laden plumes 700 meters high that dispersed ash to the southwest,”
The institute also said that the amount of sulfur dioxide emitted by the volcano increased. The emission is now 4,186 tons per day as compared to the 1,686 tons per day recorded on January 14.
As per the report, Bornas said that the presence fo sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere means the upward movement of magma.
She said that they already calculated the volume of magma inside the volcano before it erupts, adding that there is still a need to determine if there is continuous magmatic intrusion.
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