MANILA – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that magma continues to deform the Taal Volcano island, a movement that can be an indication of possible explosive eruption.
According to Phivolcs director Renato Solidum, there was a rising magma in volcano that indicates that an explosion cannot still be ruled out despite the volcano being calm the past few days.
“Definitely may papaakyat na magma. May nagsusupply pa doon,” Solidum said in a press conference on Monday morning. “The increasing (volcanic) gas is an indication that there is magma that can be a cause of possible explosion.”
Solidum added even if there’s only a steady steam emission and “infrequent weak explosions” that generated ash plumes as high at 500 to 100 meters, volcanic activities underground showed otherwise.
“The frequent volcanic earthquakes and the increasing levels of sulfur dioxide were indications of magma movement, which may lead to a possible eruption,” Solidum explained.
Solidum also raised concerns that Taal Volcano is now an “open system” with no obstructions in the crater in case it has a major eruption but the high-risk areas should be closely observed.
In case of eruption, a smaller plume at 3 to 5 kilometers in height can cause ash fall in Cavite but a major eruption creating ash columns higher than 5 kilometers will bring ash to Metro Manila, Laguna, and some parts of Rizal and northern Quezon, he said.
Phivolcs has maintained the Alert level 4 in Taal Volcano, which means hazardous explosive eruption can be expected within hours or days./PN
