Taal Volcano logs fifth eruption this October; alert level 1 stays

LUCENA CITY — Taal Volcano in Batangas province recorded another phreatic, or steam-driven, eruption within the past 24 hours, bringing to five the number of reported eruptions this month, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

In its morning bulletin on Wednesday, Oct. 21, Phivolcs said the latest eruption, locally known as “pusngat,” lasted one minute. The agency did not specify the exact time of the event.

READ: Taal Volcano logs minor phreatic eruption on Tuesday

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The latest burst followed a two-minute phreatic eruption at 12:29 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and two successive phreatic eruptions on Oct. 18, recorded at 7:31 p.m. and 7:36 p.m. The Oct. 18 events lasted seven minutes, according to the report. Phivolcs also recorded a five-minute phreatomagmatic eruption on Oct. 8.

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A phreatic eruption occurs when magma or hot rocks rapidly heat water beneath the ground or on the surface, triggering a steam-driven explosion. A phreatomagmatic eruption, meanwhile, occurs when rising magma explosively interacts with water.

In its latest bulletin, Phivolcs recorded two volcanic earthquakes and a volcanic tremor that began at 12:33 a.m. on Oct. 20 and continued through the latest observation period.

Despite the prolonged tremor, the agency said volcanic tremors are normal at Taal Volcano and did not warrant immediate alarm.

Phivolcs also measured sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions at 1,002 metric tons during the latest monitoring period, classifying the emissions as weak. This was higher than the 407 metric tons per day recorded since Oct. 16.

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The volcanic gas plume rose about 600 meters above Taal Volcano Island (TVI), locally known as “Pulo,” in the middle of Taal Lake.

No volcanic smog, or vog, was observed during the monitoring period. Phivolcs also reported no upwelling of hot fluids in the volcano’s main crater lake.

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Despite the recent eruptions, Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 1, indicating low-level unrest.

Phivolcs warned that sudden phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall and potentially lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas could occur, posing a threat to areas on TVI.

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The agency reiterated its warning against entry to the island and prohibited aircraft from flying close to the volcano. /jpv