Philippine Coast Guard Personnel and members of the local provincial disaster office of Batangas Friday reported an intense amount of sulfur odor emanating from the crater lake of Taal Volcano.

Coast Guard Batangas Chief Lt. Commander Troy Cornelio said the elite Special Operations Group together with other provincial offcials led by Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste and other military officials Friday morning conducted a seaborne patrol survey on board a coast guard rubber boats along the crater lake area and noticed that an unusual situation in the area.

Cornelio said local officials noticed a sudden rise of temperature and discoloration of the water inside the crater lake, and the existence of massive steam also noticeable in the area.

"The SOG unit together with ViceGov. (Mark) Leviste and other provincial disaster officials went to the crater lake area and noticed a sudden rise in temperature and discoloration of the water which probably is a sign of abnormal activity in the volcano," Cornelio said.

The head of Coast Guard Batangas added that several families living along the crater lake area followed their advice and opted to undergo voluntary evacuation to ensure their safety even before the situation worsened.