Two phreatic bursts occurred in Taal Volcano between Thursday, June 29, and Friday, June 30, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
It defines a phreatic burst as a steam-driven explosion that occurs when water beneath the ground or on the surface is directly heated by hot rocks or new volcanic deposits, such as pyroclastic density current deposits and lava, or indirectly by magma or magmatic gas.
Taal Volcano is continuously experiencing “low-level unrest,” Phivolcs said in its volcano bulletin on Friday.
However, it pointed out that the restive volcano in Batangas is still on Alert Level 1.
Taal Volcano in Batangas (Manila Bulletin file photo)
Aside from phreatic bursts, Phivolcs recorded nine volcanic earthquakes, including five volcanic tremors lasting two minutes, during Taal Volcano’s 24-hour monitoring.
Moreover, Taal emitted a “voluminous” plume 2,400 meters or 2.4 kilometers high before drifting southwest and northeast.
Sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas on Taal Volcano Island (TVI), Phivolcs warned.
It advised that entry into TVI—Taal’s permanent danger zone, particularly the vicinity of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, be strictly prohibited.