Taal, Kanlaon volcanoes restive

Taal Volcano and Kanlaon Volcano are acting up anew, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

- By MERLINA HERNANDO-MALIPOT and JEL SANTOS

On Monday, Oct. 13, a minor phreatic eruption occurred at the summit crater of Taal Volcano, while Phivolcs detected 55 volcanic earthquakes at Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island over the past 24 hours.

In its monitoring summary of Kanlaon Volcano issued on Monday, Phivolcs said sulfur dioxide emissions were measured at 1,205 tons per day as of Oct. 12. It also observed white steam-laden plumes rising 300 meters high, with moderate emission drifting southeast.

In a separate advisory, Phivolcs said the short-lived steam-driven activity, which occurred at around 11:42 a.m., produced plumes that rose approximately 900 meters above the main crater of Taal Volcano, as captured by the Main Crater IP Camera.

Despite the event, Alert Level 1 (low-level unrest) remains in effect over Taal Volcano, indicating that it is still in an abnormal condition, Phivolcs said.