Phivolcs detects 4 minor steam blasts at Taal Volcano

Taal Volcano showing signs of unrest, with sulfur dioxide emission reaching over 17,000 metric tons on Sunday, August 7, 2022. (File photo from INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)

MANILA, Philippines — Four minor successive phreatic or steam-driven eruptions were observed at Taal Volcano’s main crater on Friday morning, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

In an advisory, the state seismologist said the phreatic eruptions occurred between 7:03 a.m. to 7:09 a.m., 7:17 a.m. to 7:18 AM, 7:52 a.m. to 7:54 a.m., and 7:57 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.

READ: Phivolcs detects weak, steam-driven explosions in Taal volcano

Phivolcs explained that the phreatic activity is likely driven by the “continued emission of hot volcanic gases at the Taal main crater and could be succeeded by similar events.”

“The event produced white steam-laden plumes that rose between 100 and 300 meters above the main crater before drifting southwest based on IP camera monitors,” the advisory read.

Phivolcs added that the average sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from Taal Volcano since January this year remain high at 8,766 metric tons daily.

READ: Taal Volcano logs 12 earthquakes

It also maintained that Taal Volcano remains under alert level 1, which indicates that it is still in an abnormal condition.

“At Alert Level 1, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within TVI [Taal Volcano Island],” it said.

“Furthermore, degassing of high concentrations of volcanic SO2 continues to pose the threat of potential long-term health impacts to communities around Taal caldera that are frequently exposed to volcanic gas,” it added.

Phivolcs reminded us that entry to TVI, Taal’s permanent danger zone, remained prohibited, especially near the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure.