Taal Volcano has another minor eruption

Metro Manila, Philippines — A minor phreatomagmatic eruption occurred anew at the Taal Volcano, government volcanologists reported Saturday, Oct. 5, but advised that a major eruption remains unlikely.

In a bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said it recorded five phreatic or steam-driven events on Saturday morning then a four-minute “minor phreatomagmatic eruption” at 11:32 a.m.

It came three days after Phivolcs logged a minor phreatomagmatic activity at Mt. Taal, which lasted 11 minutes. 

Alert Level 1, or low-level unrest, prevails over Taal Volcano.

“Should phreatomagmatic activity at Taal persist or intensify, then the Alert Level may be raised to Alert Level 2,” Phivolcs warned.

“The phreatomagmatic event was likely driven by sudden contact of water with a small branch of shallow magma that has been in place beneath the Taal main crater and that has been degassing sustained levels of SO2 (sulfur dioxide) for the past three years,” Phivolcs said of the recent eruption.

“The background levels of volcanic earthquake activity and ground deformation detected at Taal indicate that unrest is unlikely to progress into a major magmatic eruption at this time,” it added.

Authorities reported traces of ash in areas of Agoncillo town in Batangas, the agency said.

Phivolcs said 30 minor eruptive events have been recorded since Sept. 22.

Sulfur dioxide emissions averaged 3,276 tons per day on Friday.