Taal still spewing lava fountains, still Alert Level 4: Phivolcs

January 14, 2020

Taal Volcano on Tuesday continued to spew tall lava fountains combined with dark steam and ash, but the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology ( Phivolcs) is urging the public '' to stop sharing fake information which announces that alert level 5 has been raised.'' 

Alert level four is still raised over Taal Volcano, said Phivolcs. This indicates that "hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days," according to Phivolcs.

According to Phivolcs' 8 am bulletin, within 24 hours the volcano constantly erupted and generated a 500 meter or two kilometer tall fountain lava with dark gray steam-laden pumes. 

The ash from the main crater was dispersed southwest, blanketing the municipalities of Lemery, Talisay, Taal and Cuenca in Batangas. 

"New vents opened up on the northern flank where short 500-meter lava fountains, and within the main crater where steam plumes, have emanated," Phivolcs reported. 

A total of 212 earthquakes have been recorded by the Philippine Seismic Network as of 2 am Tuesday. Eighty one of these were at Intensity 1 to 5  and were felt in Tagaytay City and Cavite. 

According to Phivolcs, the earthquakes signify that the magma inside the volcano's walls are continuously moving upward, which might lead to an eruptive activity. 

The sulfur dioxide emission from the Taal Volcano on Monday was measured at an average of 5299 tonnes per day. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS