Minor phreatic eruption recorded in Taal Volcano anew

THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded another minor phreatic eruption in Taal Volcano on Thursday. The eruption was recorded at 12:39 p.m. and has produced a 2,400-meter-high plume. Phivolcs also recorded a minor phreatic eruption on Wednesday. "Phreatic eruptions are normal for active volcanoes. It's also normal for some active volcanoes to have multiple phreatic eruptions in a short period of time, just like in Taal," Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol told the Philippine News Agency. He said phreatic eruptions could happen in quick succession as long as the hot volcanic rocks or gases are interacting with water. This causes steam-driven blasts that release steam, ash and rock fragments. A total of 36 phreatic eruptions have been recorded in Taal since April. The volcano is still under Alert Level 1 (abnormal condition), which means sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within the Taal Volcano Island (TVI), Taal's permanent danger zone. Phivolcs strongly recommends to keep the TVI off-limits, as phreatic eruptions can happen at any time, even at Alert Level 0.