MANILA, Philippines — Taal Volcano was placed on Alert Level 3 after it released a “dark phreatomagmatic plume” estimated to be one kilometer-high, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Thursday.
A phreatomagmatic activity occurs when magma interacts with water, as opposed to a magmatic activity which only involved the release of magma driven by gasses.
Phreatomagmatic activity in Taal Volcano. Screengrab from Phivolcs
According to Phivolcs’ bulletin, the increase in the alert level status means that magmatic intrusion at Taal Volcano’s main crater is currently occurring — which can lead to succeeding eruptions.
As such, the agency advised evacuating residents on the high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel in Batangas.
“This serves as notice for the raising of the alert status of Taal from Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest) to Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest). At 1516H (3:16 PM) PST, Taal Volcano Main Crater generated a short-lived dark phreatomagmatic plume 1 kilometer-high with no accompanying volcanic earthquake,” Phivolcs said.
“In view of the above, DOST-PHIVOLCS is now raising the alert status of Taal from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3. This means that there is magmatic intrusion at the Main Crater that may further drive succeeding eruptions. PHIVOLCS strongly recommends Taal Volcano Island and high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel, Batangas be evacuated due to the possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami,” it added.
Taal Volcano last erupted in January 2020, sending ash as far as Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley. It displaced several communities in surrounding towns within Cavite and Batangas provinces.