Phivolcs reports minor phreatic eruption at Taal Volcano

MANILA, Philippines — Taal Volcano in Batangas province had a minor phreatic eruption Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said the latest burst occurred from 1:37 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.The eruption produced a 2,000-meter high plume that drifted southwest, he told The Manila Times via Viber.Alert Level 1 prevails over the volcano, which means there is a low-level volcanic unrest, but a series of phreatic eruptions was recorded in the past weeks.On October 2, 2024, Phivolcs said a phreatomagmatic eruption, which was stronger than a phreatic eruption, lasted for 11 minutes.Bacolcol said there was a slim chance of a bigger and more explosive eruption in the coming weeks.A phreatomagmatic eruption occurs when magma interacts with water, causing explosive events that produce a mix of steam, ash, and fragmented volcanic materials, the Phivolcs chief said.He reminded the public anew to stay away from volcano's permanent danger zone "which is the whole of Taal Volcano Island as phreatic eruptions can take place anytime."