Taal Volcano logs 3-minute phreatomagmatic eruption

LUCENA CITY, QUEZON, Philippines — Taal Volcano in Batangas province generated a minor phreatomagmatic eruption on Sunday night, July 12, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

In a bulletin, Phivolcs said the eruption—the volcano’s first recorded this month—occurred at the main crater at 8:27 p.m. and lasted about three minutes, based on seismic, infrasound, and visual observations.

The eruption produced ash-laden, steam-rich plumes that rose approximately 1,200 meters above the crater before drifting northeast.

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Thermal activity associated with the eruption was recorded by the West Rim (VTWR) and Daang Kastila (VTDK) observation stations on Taal Volcano Island (TVI). The volcano’s main crater is located on TVI, locally known as “Pulo,” in the middle of Taal Lake.

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Last month, the volcano generated five phreatomagmatic eruptions.

Phivolcs explained that a phreatomagmatic eruption occurs when rising magma comes into explosive contact with water, generating both steam and volcanic material. This differs from a phreatic eruption, which is driven solely by the rapid heating of groundwater or surface water by magma, lava, or hot rocks.

Despite the brief eruption, Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 1, indicating low-level volcanic unrest.

Phivolcs reminded the public that Alert Level 1 does not mean the volcano has returned to its normal state or that the possibility of future eruptive activity has been eliminated. The agency stressed that Taal remains in an abnormal condition and advised the public to continue observing precautionary measures around the volcano. /cb

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