Despite the phreatomagmatic eruption of Taal Volcano in Batangas last Tuesday morning, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the current volcanic activity does not indicate a progression toward a major magmatic eruption.
“The background levels of volcanic earthquake activity and localized ground deformation detected at Taal suggest that the unrest is unlikely to develop into a major magmatic eruption at this time,” the Phivolcs advisory said.
Taal had a four-minute long minor phreatomagmatic eruption at 5:58 a.m. on Tuesday that resulted in a 600-meter dark plume that rose 2,800 meters above the volcano island.
The agency said the volcanic activity may be linked to an interaction between the water and the magma inside the volcano.
“Today’s phreatomagmatic event was likely driven by the sudden contact of water with a small batch of shallow magma that has been in the Taal main crater and that has been degassing sustained levels of SO2 (sulfur dioxide) the past three years.”
Phivolcs also noted a gradual increase in Taal’s sulfur dioxide flux, as it averaged 7,216 tons per day, higher than its monthly average of 5,283 tons per day.
The British Geological Survey defines a phreatomagmatic eruption as a magma eruption that happens through water.
In Laurel, Batangas, minimal ashfall impacted residential areas and a foul odor was reported following the brief eruption.
Barangay Chairman Ben Palicpic of Barangay Banyaga in Agoncillo, Batangas reported smelling sulfur after the eruption and described a mudfall that occurred afterward.
Alert Level 1 prevails over Taal Volcano. Phivolcs said, however, that if phreatomagmatic activities continue or even intensify, they will raise Alert Level 2 over the area.