A STEAM-DRIVEN or phreatic eruption at Taal Volcano in Batangas has been reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Saturday.
Based on its 24-hour monitoring bulletin as of midnight Saturday, Phivolcs observed a phreatic eruption with a duration of two minutes and five volcanic tremors lasting three to 608 minutes.
The development comes two days after state volcanologists monitored an increase in degassing activity at Taal.
Taal’s main crater emitted 11,072 tons of volcanic sulfur dioxide. Vog or volcanic smog was also observed. The emission, however, was lower than 18,638 tons recorded on March 28.
State volcanologists had previously said Taal Volcano has continuously degassing “voluminous concentrations” of sulfur dioxide since 2021 and has emitted an average of 8,294 tonnes a day this year.
Taal Volcano remains at Alert Level 1, characterized by “low-level unrest.”
A 2,400-meter tall plume described as a “voluminous emission” was also reported Saturday, which drifted south-southeast to north-northwest.
Long-term deflation of the Taal caldera was observed, accompanied by short-term inflation of the general northern and southeastern flanks of the Taal Volcano Island.
PHIVOLCS warned that sudden explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas posed serious health and safety risks.
Entry into the Taal Volcano Island, particularly in the main crater and Daang Kastila fissures, remains strictly prohibited. The island has been identified as a permanent danger zone.
