Phreatic burst recorded in Taal

MANILA, Philippines — A phreatic burst was recorded in Taal Volcano yesterday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

The seismic activity, which was recorded at around 12:54 p.m., lasted for two minutes.

It generated white plumes that rose 250 meters and drifted southwest.

Phivolcs said the burst was ”relatively small” and was due to hot liquid and gases from the volcano.

Phreatic bursts recorded in the past year were also small, according to state seismologists.

A volcanic tremor that lasted for three minutes was also recorded.

Sulfur dioxide flux reached 7,480 tons per day with an observed upwelling of hot volcanic fluid in the main crater lake. It produced plumes that rose up to 2,400 meters.

Taal remains under Alert Level 1, which means low level of unrest.

However, Phivolcs warned the public of stream-driven phreatic or gas-driven eruptions as well as volcanic earthquakes and minor ashfall or expulsions of volcanic gas.

Entry into Taal Volcano Island and boating in the lake should be prohibited, the agency said.

Meanwhile, in Mayon Volcano,  Phivolcs said only one volcanic earthquake was recorded for the second day in a row yesterday.

Seven dome-collapse pyroclastic density currents that lasted for three minutes and two front-collapse PDCs that generated 1,000-meter high plumes were observed.

Up to 296 rockfall events were recorded.

Lava flow advanced from around 1,300 to 2,100 meters while collapse debris had been deposited up to 3,000 meters from the crater.

Mayon remains under Alert Level 3.

Phivolcs said this means hazardous eruption within weeks or even days is possible.