Taal remains restive

MANILA, Philippines -  The restive Taal volcano in Batangas continued to show signs of unrest as state seismologists detected a total of 11 volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours.

In its latest bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) also said there was a slight increase in temperature of the water at the main crater lake from 30 to 30.5 degrees Celsius.

“Gas measurements conducted at Taal main crater lake last January, February and March 2011 yielded carbon dioxide (CO2) emission values of 2,250 tonnes per day (t/d), 1,875 t/d and 4,670 t/d respectively,” Phivolcs said.

“The remarkable increase in C02 concentration indicates anomalous gas release from the magma at depth,” the agency said.

Phivolcs maintains Alert Level 2 at Taal, which means the volcano is undergoing “magmatic intrusion” that indicates an imminent eruption.

Phivolcs continued to remind the public that the main crater, Daang Kastila trail and Mt. Tabaro (1965-1977 eruption site) are strictly off-limits because sudden hazardous steam-driven explosions could occur and high concentrations of toxic gases might accumulate.

Phivolcs warned breathing air with high concentration of gases is lethal and could cause damage to vegetation.

Phivolcs said the entire Volcano island is a permanent danger zone, and permanent settlement in the island is strictly not recommended.

Batangas Ramon Archbishop Arguelles, on the other hand, said the threats of the eruption of Taal volcano might even draw more people to observe Holy Week.

Arguelles though remains optimistic that the threats of a volcano eruption would not affect the observance of Holy Week in the province.

“I think it (Taal volcano eruption) might even attract more people (to participate in the Holy Week observance) because of what they are experiencing and their situation,” he said.

While expressing optimism of divine intervention that would not allow a volcanic eruption, Arguelles appealed to the people living in the danger zone to heed the warning of the authorities.

“They should (evacuate) for their safety… But there are really people who do not want to leave their homes and we could not force them,” he said. – With Evelyn Macairan