Don't go near Taal, public told

Manila, Philippines - The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) yesterday warned the public against going near the restive Taal volcano in Batangas as it continued to detect volcanic earthquakes in the last 24 hours.

In its latest advisory, Phivolcs said 12 volcanic quakes were detected at Taal in the past 24 hours, two of which were felt by residents of Barangay Calauit at the southeastern part of the volcano.

The quakes, accompanied by rumbling sound, occurred at around 4:32 a.m. and 4:49 a.m. and were felt at Intensity 2 and 1, respectively.

Alert level 2, meanwhile, remains hoisted over Taal volcano, with magma intruding toward the surface, as manifested by the carbon dioxide being released in the main crater lake and an increase in seismic activity.

Phivolcs said the main crater of the volcano, the Daang Kastila trail and Mt. Tabaro are strictly off-limits because sudden hazardous steam-driven explosions may occur and high concentrations of toxic gases may accumulate.

Phivolcs also reminded the public that the entire volcano island is a permanent danger zone, and permanent settlement there is strictly not recommended.

“Breathing air with high concentration of gases can be lethal to humans (and) animals and even cause damage to vegetation,” it said.

Taal, located 65 kilometers south of Manila, is one of the country’s 22 known active volcanoes with 33 recorded eruptions. Its last major eruption was in 1977.