Taal Volcano emits high level of sulfur dioxide

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) urged the residents living near Taal Volcano in Batangas to be careful due to the high levels of sulfur dioxide or sulfur emitted by the volcano.

On Thursday, Phivolcs recorded 9,911 tons per day of sulfur dioxide released by Taal Volcano, which affected the barangays of Banyaga, Bilibinwang, and Subic Ilaya in Agoncillo, Batangas.

According to residents, they inhaled a foul odor and also experienced a sore throat.

According to Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum, Alert Level 2 Taal will remain.

“Ang importante, walang tao sa Volcano Island. Bawal po doon na pumunta, delikado po ang paglabas ng gas. At ‘yong mga nakapaligid na barangay at ‘yong local government, naghahanda parati,” said Solidum.

According to Oliva Mirasol, municipal agriculture officer of Agoncillo, up to 40 hectares of plantations were affected.

The local government unit of Agoncillo distributed N-95 masks to residents on Tuesday.

Agoncillo Mayor Daniel Reyes also appealed to the Department of Health and the provincial government to send them an extra mask.

Reyes said the local government is also ready to evacuate the residents if the sulfur dioxide emission intensifies.

Taal Volcano emits high level of sulfur dioxide

In the past 24-hour period, the Taal Volcano Network recorded two hundred twenty-one (221) volcanic earthquakes, including twenty-nine (29) low frequency volcanic earthquakes and one hundred ninety-two (192) volcanic tremor events having durations of one (1) to one hundred thirty-five (135) minutes, and low-level background tremor has persisted since 08 April 2021.

Activity at the Main Crater was dominated by upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in its lake which generated plumes 1500 meters tall that drifted to the southwest. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission averaged 5,837 tonnes/day on 14 June 2021.

Based on ground deformation parameters from electronic tilt, continuous GPS and InSAR monitoring, Taal Volcano Island has begun deflating in April 2021 while the Taal region continues to undergo very slow extension since 2020. These parameters indicate overall that magmatic unrest continues to occur at shallow depths beneath the edifice.