TAAL VOLCANO ADVISORY MULA SA PHIVOLCS
This is a notice for minor phreatomagmatic activity at Taal Volcano.
A minor phreatomagmatic eruption at the Taal Main Crater occurred at 5:58 AM today, 3 December 2024, which lasted four (4) minutes based on visual, seismic and infrasound records of the Taal Volcano Network (TVN). The event produced a dark 600 meter-tall jetted plume that subsequently rose 2,800 meters above Taal Volcano Island (TVI) before drifting west-southwest based on IP camera monitors. Traces of ash were reported in Poblacion, Agoncillo and Buso-buso, Laurel, Batangas. Taal has been exhibiting increased volcanic gas emissions and localized ground deformation for the past month although volcanic earthquakes have been at low levels. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) flux on 30 November 2024 averaged 7,216 tonnes/day, higher than the monthly average of 5,283 tonnes/day. Ground deformation monitors have also been recording localized inflation of TVI since September 2024 although long-term deflation of the Taal Caldera region has persisted since 2020. Today’s phreatomagmatic event was likely driven by sudden contact of water with a small batch of shallow magma that has been in place beneath the Taal Main Crater and that has been degassing sustained levels of SO2 for the past three years. The background levels of volcanic earthquake activity and localized ground deformation detected at Taal indicate that unrest is unlikely to progress into a major magmatic eruption at this time.
DOST-PHIVOLCS reminds the public that Alert Level 1 prevails over Taal Volcano, which means that it is still in abnormal condition and should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity. At Alert Level 1, sudden steamdriven or phreatic or minor phreatomagmatic eruptions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within the Taal Volcano Island (TVI). Should phreatomagmatic activity at Taal persist or intensify, then the Alert Level may be raised to Alert Level 2. Furthermore, degassing of high concentrations of volcanic SO2 continues to pose the threat of potential long-term health impacts to communities around Taal Caldera that are frequently exposed to volcanic gas. DOST-PHIVOLCS strongly recommends that entry into TVI, Taal’s Permanent Danger Zone or PDZ, especially the vicinities of the Main Crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, must remain strictly prohibited. Local government units are advised to continuously monitor and assess preparedness of their communities and undertake appropriate response measures to mitigate hazards that could be posed by long-term degassing and related phreatic activity. Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and wind-remobilized ash may pose hazards to aircrafts.
DOST-PHIVOLCS is closely monitoring Taal Volcano’s activity and any new significant development will be immediately communicated to all stakeholders.
DOST-PHIVOLCS
PHIVOLCS Website: https://phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/.../28501-taal-volcano...
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