Phivolcs sees no major Taal Volcano eruption soon; close monitoring on

Taal Volcano (EDWIN BACASMAS / INQUIREr file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Director Renato Solidum on Friday said a major eruption from Taal Volcano is not expected at present, although close monitoring is still necessary.

Solidum said no phreatomagmatic bursts from the Taal Volcano were recorded as of 7:30 a.m. on Friday.

“Wala pa po tayong nakikita batay sa mga instrumento at sa kadahilanang ang mga gas ay marami nang nakaalpas,” Solidum when interviewed on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

(We are not seeing that based on our instruments since gases have already been released.)

“Pero kailangan pa rin nating bantayan ito kasi basta nagkaroon ng pag-akyat ng magma sa tubig, parang uminom ka ng kape at ‘yung mainit mong baso ay nilublob mo sa mas malamig na tubig ay sumasambalat din po yan,” he added.

(But we should still monitor it because if magma rises, it’s like drinking coffee and placing your hot mug on cold water.)

Phivolcs said the latest phreatomagmatic bursts, which lasted for no longer than two minutes each, were recoded  at 6:26 p.m., 7:21 p.m., 7:41 p.m., and 8:20 p.m. on Thursday night.

A phreatomagmatic eruption from the main crater of Taal Volcano occurred on Thursday afternoon that prompted Phivolcs to raise Alert Level 3 over the volcano.

Phreatomagmatic activity in Taal Volcano (Screengrab from Phivolcs)

  On Thursday, Solidum said Phivolcs is not expecting Taal Volcano to erupt in the same manner that it did in January 2020.

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