The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said a “minor phreatomagmatic eruption” occurred at Taal Volcano Island’s Main Crater at 7:34 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 6.
A phreatomagmatic eruption occurs when magma comes into contact with water, resulting in the production of steam, ash, and occasionally fragmented volcanic materials.
Phivolcs said the eruption produced a 600-meter ash plume, which was captured in real-time by the Lower Calauit Observation Station’s IP camera.
Accompanying the eruption was a volcanic tremor lasting about three minutes, it added.
Phivolcs had previously warned of heightened seismic activity at Taal, which could lead to a phreatic or phreatomagmatic eruption.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/6/phivolcs-warns-of-increased-seismic-activity-at-taal
Since Jan. 4, the Taal Volcano Network observed a significant increase in seismic energy, as indicated by real-time seismic amplitude measurements.
Over the past six days, 12 volcanic earthquakes, including six tremor events, have been detected, signaling intensified volcanic unrest.
Despite the eruption and tremor, Phivolcs has maintained Alert Level 1, indicating that Taal remains in an “abnormal” state.
While the eruption was relatively minor, Phivolcs warned that further eruptions or volcanic tremors may follow in the coming days.