ni Lolet Abania | March 24, 2021
Nagbabala ang Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) sa publiko matapos na magtala ang Bulkang Taal ng tinatawag na ‘increase seismic activity’ na posibleng magdulot ng magmatic eruption ng bulkan.
Sa isang bulletin na inilabas ngayong Miyerkules, simula noong Pebrero 13, nakapagtala ang Phivolcs ng kabuuang 2,015 volcanic tremors, 734 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes at 18 hybrid earthquake events.
Ayon sa Phivolcs, isang "harmonic tremor associated with magma migration" ang nangingibabaw na klase ng lindol simula noong March 19 na siyang nagaganap sa Bulkang Taal at sa paligid nito.
"Most earthquake events occurred at shallow depths of (less than) 2 kilometers although some large earthquakes were generated in the deeper 2-6 kilometers region beneath the Taal Volcano Island (TVI) edifice," ani Phivolcs.
"Overall seismic energy release has markedly increased since yesterday afternoon compared to previous seismic swarms," dagdag pa ng ahensiya. Iniulat din ng ahensiya na noong nakaraang linggo, napakataas ng inilalabas na sulfur dioxide gas ng bulkan na umabot na sa 1,184 tons kada araw gaya nitong Linggo.
Sinabi pa ng Phivolcs na ang mga parameter na ito ay nagpapahiwatig na posibleng magkaroon ng magmatic eruption. "Ground deformation of TVI and the Taal Caldera region in general has remained steady and at slight inflationary trends since February 2021," ani Phivolcs.
"The above parameters indicate that magma has been migrating across shallow depths beneath TVI, increasing the possibilities of magmatic eruption," paliwanag ng ahensiya.
Nananatili naman sa Alert Level 2 ang Taal Volcano o "increased unrest." Naglabas na rin ng rekomendasyon ang Phivolcs na ang pagpasok sa Taal Volcano Island, Taal’s Permanent Danger Zone o PDZ, lalo na sa bisinidad na malapit sa Main Crater at sa Daang Kastila fissure, at mga residente, gayundin ang pamamangka sa Taal Lake ay mahigpit na ipinagbabawal.
"Local government units are advised to continuously assess and strengthen the preparedness of previously evacuated barangays around Taal Lake in case of renewed unrest," pahayag ng ahensiya.
"Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and wind-remobilized ash may pose hazards to aircraft," dagdag pa ng Phivolcs.
