The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) assured the public on Tuesday that the Alert Level 1 (abnormal) warning imposed over four active volcanoes across the country was no cause for concern.
Taal Volcano, Mayon Volcano, Bulusan Volcano and Kanlaon Volcano have all been under a “period of unrest” for the past few weeks, and these have no proven connections with the earthquakes in Masbate province, Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said in an interview with DZMM Teleradyo.
Alert Level 1 has been imposed on Kanlaon since Mar. 11, Taal Volcano since Mar. 19, Bulusan since July 6, and Mayon since July 17, Phivolcs said in a report on July 17.
“Minsan naga-associate ang mga tao kahit malayo na po. Nonetheless, everytime na mayroong malaking earthquake we actually monitor closely ‘yung nearby volcanoes,” Solidum said.
He also clarified that the viral video of Taal Volcano’s steam emissions was an old video, adding that the steam-laden plumes coming from the landmass had a height of just 20 meters. Five volcanic earthquakes have been recorded from Taal over the past 24 hours.
Phivolcs in a report on Tuesday morning said Mayon Volcano had one rockfall incident and steam-laden plumes were emitted from the mouth of the landmass measuring as high as 750 meters.
Four volcanic earthquakes were observed at Kanlaon Volcano with steam-laden emissions measuring 500 meters in height, state volcanologists reported. The sulfur dioxide emission was recorded to be at an average of 1,012 tonnes per day on Aug. 2.
Weak emissions of white steam-laden plumes from Bulusan’s lower southeast vent were also observed by Phivolcs.
The state volcanology institute reminded the public that at Alert Level 1, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas could occur near the volcanoes. Carlito P. Topacio