MANILA, Philippines – Another minor phreatomagmatic eruption occurred at Taal Volcano in Batangas late Saturday morning, October 5, less than three days after a similar eruption was recorded.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in an advisory at 1:30 pm on Saturday that the minor phreatomagmatic eruption — or an eruption involving both water and magma — happened at 11:32 am and lasted 4 minutes.
It “produced a short black jetted plume followed by a steam-rich plume that rose 2,000 meters” above Taal Volcano’s main crater.
“Traces of ash were reported in areas of Agoncillo, Batangas,” Phivolcs said.
Like the minor phreatomagmatic eruption last Wednesday afternoon, October 2, Saturday’s eruption was also “likely driven by sudden contact of water with a small branch of shallow magma that has been in place beneath the Taal Main Crater and that has been degassing sustained levels of SO2 (sulfur dioxide) for the past three years.”
“Prior to this, a total of five phreatic events were recorded today,” added Phivolcs. Phreatic means steam-driven.
Since September 22, there have been 30 “minor eruptive events.”
Taal’s SO2 emissions have stayed high in 2024, averaging 6,673 tons per day. On Friday, October 4, the average was 3,276 tons per day.
But so far, volcanic earthquakes and ground deformation remain at “background levels,” which means there is no spike in these two parameters.
Taal has been under Alert Level 1 or “in abnormal condition” since July 11, 2022.
While Phivolcs does not yet see the current unrest progressing into “a major magmatic eruption,” it said it may raise Alert Level 2 if the volcano’s phreatomagmatic activity persists or intensifies.
Under Alert Level 1, these are possible:
- sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions
- volcanic earthquakes
- minor ashfall
- lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas
Entry into Taal Volcano Island, a permanent danger zone, should still be prohibited. – Rappler.com
