Phreatomagmatic burst recorded in Taal Volcano on Thursday – Phivolcs

 MANILA, Philippines — A phreatomagmatic burst with plumes reaching 300 meters high occurred in Taal Volcano’s main crater on Thursday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Phivolcs said the burst was recorded at 4:16 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10, with the plume drifting southwest of Taal Volcano.

 No eruption, however, followed.

Phreatomagmatic eruptions are caused by the interaction of water and magma, according to Phivolcs.

 On January 29, a total of eight phreatomagmatic bursts were also recorded.

Taal Volcano is currently under Alert Level 2  – meaning gas-driven explosions and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas could occur and threaten areas within and around Taal Volcano Island.

 The volcano last erupted on January 12, 2020, with ash fall that reached parts of Metro Manila and nearby provinces, displacing more than 700,000 people in Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Metro Manila. 

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