The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Taal Volcano experienced a minor phreatic or steam-driven eruption at 7:21 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, which produced a plume that reached a height of 2.8 kilometers.
Phivolcs said Alert Level 1 is still in effect for Taal Volcano, which has been under this alert status since July 11, 2022.
Under 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 the Taal Volcano Island (TVI).
Furthermore, Phivolcs said the degassing of high concentrations of volcanic SO2 continues to pose significant long-term health risks to communities surrounding Taal Caldera that are frequently exposed to volcanic gases.
It strongly advised against entry into TVI, Taal’s permanent danger zone, particularly near the Main Crater and the Daang Kastila fissure.
Local government units are also encouraged to monitor their communities’ preparedness and implement appropriate measures to mitigate risks associated with long-term degassing and related phreatic activity.