Floating volcanic rocks at Taal Lake spark panic among residents in the Philippines

Residents were alarmed when volcanic rocks were seen floating in the Taal Volcano lake in the Philippines. Footage shows a layer of pebbles covering the surface of the lake following heavy rain in Batangas province on June 21. Seismologists assured locals that the appearance of the rocks, called 'scoria', had nothing to do with the ongoing seismic activity at Taal Volcano - which has been spewing clouds of steam and ash in recent weeks. Jojo Cordon, science research specialist at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said: 'Those are deposits from the volcano. They have ridges and have pores. They may have been dug up in the past due to human activity, and were swept towards the lake.' Authorities said the scoria were not hazardous to residents' health. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) in a bulletin on Friday, June 23, said it recorded 23 volcanic earthquakes over a 24-hour period. Alert Level 1 - the lowest in a five-step warning system - was still raised over the volcano, PHIVOLCS. Pregnant women, children, and the elderly, especially those with underlying health conditions, were advised to stay indoors as the fumes were hazardous to their health. Speaking to local media, PHIVOLCS director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol said: 'We remind residents to limit their outdoor activities as much as possible. They have to wear masks if they go outside. 'As of now, Taal Volcano is still under Alert Level 1. It might lead to a volcanic eruption, but it might not. Under Alert Level 1, there is the possibility of a sudden explosion - steam or phreatic explosion. That's why we are closely monitoring the volcano.' According to PHIVOLCS, Alert Level 1 indicates 'low level of volcanic unrest'. It warned there may be steam-driven or gas-driven explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas. The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands inside the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' where the majority of Earth's volcano eruptions and earthquakes happen