WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Taal Volcano in the province of Batangas was placed under Alert Level 3 on July 1, after a phreatomagmatic eruption occurred. Weak phreatomagmatic bursts and high levels of sulfur dioxide emissions, among others, were observed in the days that followed.
The unrest gradually decreased within July, prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to downgrade Taal Volcano to Alert Level 2 on July 23. But Phivolcs stressed that the threat of an eruption has not disappeared.
Bookmark this page for Phivolcs bulletins, information on government response, updates about evacuations, and other crucial information about Taal Volcano.
LATEST UPDATES
Phivolcs bulletin, December 1, 8 am
Phivolcs reported the following in its Taal Volcano bulletin issued at 8 am on Wednesday, December 1:
● Sulfur dioxide emission: 5,228 tons per day on Monday, November 29 (no data given for Tuesday, November 30). Volcanic smog or vog observed over Taal Volcano and its vicinity.
● Volcanic earthquakes: 19 in past 24-hour period, including 1 volcanic tremor event lasting 1 to 2 minutes, 10 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes, and 8 hybrid events. Low-level background tremor has also persisted since July 7.
● Main Crater Lake activity: upwelling of hot volcanic fluids which generated plumes 1,800 meters tall, drifting southwest
● Ground deformation: Taal Volcano Island and the Taal region began deflating in October
Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 2. Phivolcs reminded the public that the following could still occur:
● sudden steam- or gas-driven explosions
● volcanic earthquakes
● minor ashfall
● lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas
Phivolcs bulletin, November 30, 8 am
Phivolcs reported the following in its Taal Volcano bulletin issued at 8 am on Tuesday, November 30:
● Sulfur dioxide emission: 5,228 tons per day on Monday, November 29
● Volcanic earthquakes: 21 in past 24-hour period, including 11 volcanic tremor events lasting 2 to 10 minutes, 6 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes, and 4 hybrid events. Low-level background tremor has also persisted since July 7.
● Main Crater Lake activity: upwelling of hot volcanic fluids which generated plumes 1,500 meters tall, drifting southwest
● Ground deformation: Taal Volcano Island and the Taal region began deflating in October
Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 2. Phivolcs reminded the public that the following could still occur:
● sudden steam- or gas-driven explosions
● volcanic earthquakes
● minor ashfall
● lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas
Phivolcs bulletin, November 29, 8 am
Phivolcs reported the following in its Taal Volcano bulletin issued at 8 am on Monday, November 29:
● Sulfur dioxide emission: 4,084 tons per day on Saturday, November 27 (no data given for Sunday, November 28)
● Volcanic earthquakes: 8 in past 24-hour period, including 7 volcanic tremor events lasting 2 to 3 minutes and 1 low-frequency volcanic earthquake. Low-level background tremor has also persisted since July 7.
● Main Crater Lake activity: upwelling of hot volcanic fluids which generated plumes 500 meters tall, drifting southwest
● Ground deformation: Taal Volcano Island and the Taal region began deflating in October
Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 2. Phivolcs reminded the public that the following could still occur:
● sudden steam- or gas-driven explosions
● volcanic earthquakes
● minor ashfall
● lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas
Phivolcs bulletin, November 28, 8 am
Phivolcs reported the following in its Taal Volcano bulletin issued at 8 am on Sunday, November 28:
● Sulfur dioxide emission: 4,084 tons per day on Saturday, November 27
● Volcanic earthquakes: 34 in past 24-hour period, including 24 volcanic tremor events lasting 2 to 6 minutes, 6 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes, and 4 hybrid volcanic earthquakes. Low-level background tremor has also persisted since July 7.
● Main Crater Lake activity: upwelling of hot volcanic fluids which generated plumes 900 meters tall, drifting southwest
● Ground deformation: Taal Volcano Island began inflating in August
Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 2. Phivolcs reminded the public that the following could still occur:
● sudden steam- or gas-driven explosions
● volcanic earthquakes
● minor ashfall
● lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas
Phivolcs bulletin, November 27, 8 am
Phivolcs reported the following in its Taal Volcano bulletin issued at 8 am on Saturday, November 27:
● Sulfur dioxide emission: 3,229 tons per day on Friday, November 26
● Volcanic earthquakes: 69 in past 24-hour period, including 59 volcanic tremor events lasting 1 to 8 minutes, 7 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes, and 3 hybrid volcanic earthquakes. Low-level background tremor has also persisted since July 7.
● Main Crater Lake activity: upwelling of hot volcanic fluids which generated plumes 600 meters tall, drifting southwest
● Ground deformation: Taal Volcano Island began inflating in August
Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 2. Phivolcs reminded the public that the following could still occur:
● sudden steam- or gas-driven explosions
● volcanic earthquakes
● minor ashfall
● lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas
Phivolcs bulletin, November 26, 8 am
Phivolcs reported the following in its Taal Volcano bulletin issued at 8 am on Friday, November 26:
● Sulfur dioxide emission: 2,817 tons per day on Thursday, November 25
● Volcanic earthquakes: 42 in past 24-hour period, including 24 volcanic tremor events lasting 1 to 3 minutes, 14 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes, and 4 hybrid volcanic earthquakes. Low-level background tremor has also persisted since July 7.
● Main Crater Lake activity: upwelling of hot volcanic fluids which generated plumes 1,500 meters tall, drifting southwest
● Ground deformation: Taal Volcano Island began inflating in August
Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 2. Phivolcs reminded the public that the following could still occur:
● sudden steam- or gas-driven explosions
● volcanic earthquakes
● minor ashfall
● lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas
Phivolcs bulletin, November 25, 8 am
Phivolcs reported the following in its Taal Volcano bulletin issued at 8 am on Thursday, November 25:
● Sulfur dioxide emission: 1,727 tons per day on Wednesday, November 24
● Volcanic earthquakes: 27 in past 24-hour period, including 23 volcanic tremor events lasting 2 to 6 minutes, 3 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes, and 1 hybrid volcanic earthquake. Low-level background tremor has also persisted since July 7.
● Main Crater Lake activity: upwelling of hot volcanic fluids which generated plumes 900 meters tall, drifting southwest
● Ground deformation: Taal Volcano Island began inflating in August
Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 2. Phivolcs reminded the public that the following could still occur:
● sudden steam- or gas-driven explosions
● volcanic earthquakes
● minor ashfall
● lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas
Phivolcs bulletin, November 24, 8 am
Phivolcs reported the following in its Taal Volcano bulletin issued at 8 am on Wednesday, November 24:
● Sulfur dioxide emission: 4,447 tons per day on Tuesday, November 23
● Volcanic earthquakes: 34 in past 24-hour period, including 16 volcanic tremor events lasting 1 to 2 minutes and 18 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes. Low-level background tremor has also persisted since July 7.
● Main Crater Lake activity: upwelling of hot volcanic fluids which generated plumes 1,800 meters tall, drifting southwest
● Ground deformation: Taal Volcano Island began inflating in August
Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 2. Phivolcs reminded the public that the following could still occur:
● sudden steam- or gas-driven explosions
● volcanic earthquakes
● minor ashfall
● lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas
Phivolcs bulletin, November 23, 8 am
Phivolcs reported the following in its Taal Volcano bulletin issued at 8 am on Tuesday, November 23:
● Phreatomagmatic bursts: 3 recorded at 8:11 am, 8:17 pm, and 8:34 pm on Monday, November 22, lasting 1 to 5 minutes and producing plumes 200 to 1,500 meters tall. (Phivolcs earlier said in a 10:30 pm advisory on Monday that there have been 6 phreatomagmatic bursts since November 15, “likely driven by fracturing and gas release from resting magma beneath Taal Volcano Island.”)
● Main Crater Lake activity: upwelling of hot volcanic fluids which generated plumes 2,100 meters tall, drifting southwest
● Sulfur dioxide emission: 6,643 tons per day on Monday
● Volcanic earthquakes: 30 in past 24-hour period, including 23 volcanic tremor events lasting 2 to 5 minutes, 4 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes, and 3 hybrid volcanic earthquakes. Low-level background tremor has also persisted since July 7.
● Main Crater Lake activity: upwelling of hot volcanic fluids which generated plumes 2,500 meters tall, drifting southwest and west-northwest
● Ground deformation: Taal Volcano Island began inflating in August
Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 2. Phivolcs reminded the public that the following could still occur:
● sudden steam- or gas-driven explosions
● volcanic earthquakes
● minor ashfall
● lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas
Phivolcs bulletin, November 22, 8 am
Phivolcs reported the following in its Taal Volcano bulletin issued at 8 am on Monday, November 22:
● Sulfur dioxide emission: 12,168 tons per day on Sunday, November 21
● Volcanic earthquakes: 7 in past 24-hour period, including 3 volcanic tremor events lasting 1 to 2 minutes and 4 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes. Low-level background tremor has also persisted since July 7.
● Main Crater Lake activity: upwelling of hot volcanic fluids which generated plumes 2,500 meters tall, drifting southwest and west-northwest
● Ground deformation: Taal Volcano Island began inflating in August
Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 2. Phivolcs reminded the public that the following could still occur:
● sudden steam- or gas-driven explosions
● volcanic earthquakes
● minor ashfall
● lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas