(Eagle News) – A magnitude 3.2 quake was felt three kilometers southwest of Tagaytay City, Cavite due to the ongoing volcanic activity of Taal in the area.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the depth of focus was eight kilometers. It was recorded at 5:10 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12, and was of volcanic origin, PHIVOLCS said.
This was the strongest tremor so far due to the ongoing eruption of Taal volcano since the series of volcanic quakes felt this afternoon in Batangas and Cavite.
Earlier, at 4 p.m., PHIVOLCS notified the public about the increasing unrest of Taal volcano, prompting the government agency to raise Taal’s alert level from level 2 (increasing unrest) to alert level 3 (magmatic unrest).
PHIVOLCS said that as of 2:04 p.m., Taal volcano’s “main crater has escalated its eruptive activity.”
Taal volcano had a kilometer-high eruption plume. This was accompanied by volcanic tremor. The earthquakes were felt in Volcano Island and the barangays of Agoncillo, Batangas. “Ashfall is currently being showered on the southwest sector of Taal,” PHIVOLCS said.
“This means that there is magmatic intrusion that is likely driving the current activity,” it said.
