THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) yesterday said upwelling of hot volcanic liquid continued at the main crater lake of Taal Volcano which has been exhibiting increased degassing in the past weeks.
In a bulletin issued at 8 a.m. yesterday, Phivolcs also said Taal Volcano in Batangas emitted 3,945 tons of sulfur dioxide on Saturday, less compared to 13,527 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions that was recorded last Thursday.
Phivolcs said it has also monitored “vog” or volcanic smog around the volcano.
“Upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the main crater lake, vog was observed,” Phivolcs said in the bulletin.
Phivolcs said it has also monitored steam-rich plumes, as high as 2,100 meters, that drifted southwest, a slight inflation of the Taal Volcano Island, and deflation of the eastern Taal Caldera.
Phivolcs said it has recorded no volcanic earthquake over the past 24 hours, compared to six during the previous period.
In an advisory last Friday, Phivolcs said Taal has increased its degassing, in the form of upwelling of volcanic fluids in the main crater lake, since the beginning of this month.
Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 1 or low-level unrest. Entry to Taal Volcano Island and flying of aircraft close to the volcano are not allowed.
Among hazards that can occur under Alert 1 are steam-driven or phreatic or gas-driven explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said the increased gas emission has affected at least 541 people and resulted in “acid rain” in some areas in Batangas and Laguna.
The DSWD-Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) said 166 individuals from two barangays in Laurel in Batangas experienced irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat while others complained of cough and colds, asthma and fever.
It added 339 farmers from Laurel and 36 farmers from Cabuyao in Laguna reported damage to their rice, corn, and high-value crops because of the acid rain.
The DSWD said on site assessment is being undertaken to determine health risks and medicines needed by the community especially.
The DSWD has provided P347,967 worth of assistance to individuals affected by the gas emission, which included 447 family food packs sent to Laurel while the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Office of the Civil Defense IV-A and local government units of Agoncillo, Talisay and Laurel have provided N95 masks to the affected barangays.
DSWD said it still has P1.767 billion worth of funds and stockpiles composed of family food packs (P290. million) and other non-food items. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
