Taal volcano (Luzon Island, Philippines): five minor phreatic bursts yesterday

Small phreatic burst at Taal volcano about 16:30 local time yesterday (image: @jaimessincioco/X)

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) observatory recorded five mild phreatic bursts from the Main Crater Lake within the Taal caldera between 01:10 AM and 04:37 PM yesterday.

The explosive activity was accompanied by emissions of steam-laden plumes, generating column height between 300 and 2,100 meters above the fumarolic vents drifting east-northeast. Events were steam-driven only, caused by overheated water flashing to steam.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions reached to a 1354 tonnes/day on 30 September.

The seismic station registered 6 two-to-ten-minute-long volcanic tremor events over the past 24 hours.

The latest maximum Main Crater Lake temperature reached to a 72.7 °C on 20 February.

The short-term electronic tiltmeter and GPS measurements found the northern and southeastern edifice area deflated. However, from a long-term point of view, instruments continue to register the ongoing uplift of the Taal caldera.

The alert level for the volcano remains at Level 1.

Source: Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology volcano activity update 2 October 2024

Small phreatic burst at Taal volcano about 16:30 local time yesterday (image: @jaimessincioco/X)