The Taal Volcano has been put under Alert Level 3 following a series of "short-lived phreatomagmatic bursts," the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said Saturday morning.
In its 8 a.m. bulletin, PHIVOLCS said that plumes as high as 1.5 kilometers were spotted from Taal’s main crater at 7:22 AM, which was accompanied by volcanic earthquake and infrasound signals.
Under Alert Level 3, "there is magmatic intrusion at the Main Crater that may further drive succeeding eruptions," PHIVOLCS said.
PHIVOLCS also strongly recommended the evacuation of residents in Taal Volcano Island and Barangays Bilibinwang and Banyaga in Agoncillo, and Boso-bobo, Gulod, and eastern Bugaan East in Laurel "due to the possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami should stronger eruptions subsequently occur."
Taal Volcano was earlier under Alert Level 2.
PHIVOLCS said it continues to monitor Taal Volcano closely and will report any new development.
