Phivolcs lowers Taal alert level to 2

February 14, 2020

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Friday lowered the status of Taal Volcano to Alert Level 2 from Alert Level 3.

But it said entry into the permanent danger zone is still prohibited.

In its bulletin issued Friday, Phivolcs said after Taal's alert level was lowered to 3 from 4 last January 26, the volcano's "condition in the succeeding three weeks has been characterized by less fequent volcanic earthquake activity, stabilizing ground deformation of the Taal Caldera and Taal Volcano Island (TVI) edifices and weak steam/gas emissions at the main crater."

"DOST-Phivolcs is lowering the alert status of Taal Volcano from alert level 3 to alert level 2 to reflect the overall decreasing trend in the level of monitoring parameters," it stated.

Phivolcs said although ''Alert Level 2 means that there is decreased unrest" it doesn't mean "that unrest has ceased or that the threat of an eruption has disappeared."

"DOST-Phivolcs reminds the public that at Alert Level 2, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within TVI and along its coast," it said.

Phivolcs also noted that "should an uptrend or pronounced change in monitored parameters forewarn apotential eruption, the alert level may be raised back to Alert Level 3" or decreased tendency towards hazardous eruption.

However, Philvolcs also mentioned that "should there be a persistent downtrend in monitored parameters after a sufficient observation period, the alert level will be further lowered to Alert Level 1."

Despite the decrease on the alert level status of Taal, Phivolcs advise people in the area to observe precautions "due to ground displacement across fissures, frequent ashfall and minor earthquakes."

"Communities beside active river channels particularly where ash from the main eruption phase has been thickly deposited should increase vigilance when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall since the ash can be washed away and form lahars along the channels," said Phivolcs.

"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," it added. Robina Asido/DMS