taal,volcano
© Jason Gutierrez / AFP - Getty Images file
San Pedro, Laguna - The water temperature in the main crater of Taal volcano increased over the weekend, a sign that the volcano may be about to erupt.

Volcanologists raised alert level 2 over Taal early this month.

A bulletin released by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the temperature of crater waters rose from 30.5 degrees Celsius to 31.5 degrees Celsius over the weekend.

Clyde Yayong of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (DRRMC) in Tagaytay City said they are keeping close tabs on the volcano.

Although Tagaytay City is quite far from the volcano, he said the city might have to take in evacuees from the volcano island in the event of an eruption.

"The fluctuating water temperature means magma is also increasing," Yayong said.

On Sunday, 14 volcanic earthquakes were also recorded by the seismic network of Phivolcs on Taal.

The number of volcanic quakes reached an average of 15 a day, according to Vicente Tomazar, chief of the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon).

At around 6:35 a.m. Monday, a magnitude three earthquake jolted the volcano island, said Allan Loza, resident volcanologist at the Taal Observatory.

Villagers in Calauit felt a loud rumbling sound and shaking of their houses because the quake's depth or epicenter was shallow, Loza said. The quake lasted about 15 seconds but the shaking was felt for only 5 to 6 seconds.

The main crater as well as the Daang Kastila trail and the Mt. Tabaro portions of the Taal Volcano island are off limits to the public.

Out of the some 5,000 residents on the volcano island, some 260 families or 1,468 persons have evacuated. Some are staying at the second floor of the public market in San Nicolas town while others are in the homes of their relatives and friends in various surrounding towns, according to Ginette Segismundo, Batangas government information officer.