Philippines' Taal's Sulfur Dioxide Emission, Number of Volcanic Quakes Drop

A significant drop in the sulfur dioxide emission level and fewer volcanic earthquakes had been recorded in Taal Volcano, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Tuesday.

The sulfur dioxide released through the volcano has dropped to an average of 344 tonnes/day compared to the 4,353 tonnes/day recorded on Monday.

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PHIVOLCS previously explained that the presence of higher sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere means that the magma is shallow or moving towards the surface.

Taal's sulfur dioxide emission has been fluctuating since it turned into first of all measured at 5,299 tonnes/day on January 13, after its eruption; however, the modern-day measurement is the lowest recorded so far.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Seismic Network (PSN) plotted the most effective five volcanic earthquakes from 5 am local time (4:00 pm EST) Monday to 5 am local time (4:00 pm EST) Tuesday. These had been registered at magnitudes 1.6 to 2.5 with no intensity.

This brings to 718 the overall of volcanic earthquakes recorded because of Taal Volcano's initial eruption on January 12.

Meanwhile, 488 volcanic earthquakes were registered in the Taal Volcano Network - which records small seismic activities undetectable by the PSN - in the past 24 hours.

Seventeen of these had been low-frequency earthquakes. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the tremors were "a result of cracks resonating as magma and gases move in the direction of the surface."

The USGS said the magma are frequently visible previous to volcanic eruptions, but the prevalence is also a part of the regular historical past seismicity at some volcanoes.

"Their prevalence does not necessarily imply that an eruption is imminent," the USGS said.

Alert Level 4 became still raised over Taal Volcano on Tuesday despite those developments. A hazardous eruption is still possible within hours to days.

"Such excessive seismic activity probably signifies continuous magmatic intrusion below the Taal edifice, which might also lead to in addition eruptive activity," PHIVOLCS stated.

Taal Volcano's activity in the beyond 24 hours has been characterized by "susceptible steam emission that generated ash plumes 500-six hundred meters tall" that dispersed ash to the southwest of the region near the main crater, according to Phivolcs.

Citing Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration's (Pagasa's) forecast, Phivolcs said that the provinces south, southwest, west, and northwest of Taal Volcano could still experience ashfall if the eruption plume remains within three kilometers.

Volcanic ash could also reach the provinces of Cavite and western Laguna if the eruption plume rises between three to five kilometers.

The ash could drift over Metro Manila, parts of Laguna, Rizal, Marinduque, and Quezon provinces if a first-rate eruption occurs and generate an explosion over five kilometers.

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Phivolcs underscored that the Taal Volcano Island, the areas in the 14-kilometer radius from the main crater, and regions along the Pansipit River Valley have to be evacuated because of dangers which include base surge and volcanic tsunami should the anticipated hazardous eruption occur.

The airspace around Taal Volcano stays risky to aircraft because of airborne ash and ballistic fragments from the eruption column, it added.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Tuesday said the quantity of individuals tormented by the Taal Volcano eruption has reached 271,278 or 68,439 families.

The death toll among Taal evacuees has risen to four as of Monday, according to a local news report. Around 38,906 households or 148,514 people are taking temporary shelter in 497 evacuation centers.