Phivolcs detects weak phreatic eruption in Taal Volcano

LUCENA CITY — Taal Volcano in Batangas province recorded a weak phreatic, or steam-driven, eruption on Sunday (Aug. 11), according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

In its Monday bulletin, Phivolcs said the event lasted only a minute.

Phivolcs defines a phreatic eruption as a “steam-driven explosion that occurs when water beneath the ground or on the surface is heated by magma, lava, hot rocks, or new volcanic deposits (for example, tephra and pyroclastic-flow deposits).”

At least one volcanic earthquake was recorded at Taal Volcano in the past 24 hours.

The latest activity at the main crater showed a “weak emission” of 5,095 metric tons (MT) of sulfur dioxide, which rose to 600 meters and drifted northeast.

State volcanologists also observed an “upwelling of hot volcanic fluids” in the main crater lake of the volcano, located on Taal Volcano Island, locally known as “Pulo,” which sits in the middle of Taal Lake.
Taal Volcano is still under alert level 1 (low level of volcanic unrest), Phivolcs said.

The agency reminded the public that Taal Volcano remained in an “abnormal condition” and “should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity.” INQ