MANILA, Jul 7 (NNN-PNA) – A “short-lived” phreatomagmatic eruption occurred, at the main crater of the restive Taal volcano, south of Manila today, producing a 300-metre high “greyish plume,” said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
The eruption happened at 5:18 a.m. local time today, said the institute, adding that, it recorded 55 volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours, including one “explosion-type” earthquake and 44 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes.
The institute said that, it recorded “high levels of volcanic sulfur dioxide gas emissions, and steam-rich plumes that rose 1,500 metres” from the crater.
“Alert level 3 or magmatic unrest now prevails over Taal volcano,” the institute said, warning that, magma extruding from the main crater could drive explosive eruption.
The volcano, located in Batangas province, 66 kilometres south of Manila, erupted on Jul 1, following a phreatomagmatic activity that prompted evacuations of thousands of villagers near the island volcano.
The institute raised the alert level to 3 on a scale of 5 on Jul 1, after the “short-lived phreatomagmatic eruption occurred at the main crater.”
A phreatomagmatic eruption occurs when there is explosive contact of erupting magma with water.
Taal volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines, last erupted in Jan, 2020. The last eruption displaced nearly 380,000 villagers and destroyed many farms, houses and roads in the province.– NNN-PNA
