PHIVOLCS OBSERVES PHREATIC ERUPTION AT TAAL VOLCANO

A STEAM-DRIVEN or phreatic eruption was observed at the Taal Volcano in Batangas, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Saturday said.

According to Phivolcs’ 24-hour monitoring bulletin as of midnight Saturday,  a phreatic eruption was observed at the Taal Volcano with a duration of two minutes and five volcanic tremors lasting three to 608 minutes.

The steam-driven eruption came two days after state volcanologists monitored an increase in the degassing activity at the volcano.

Phivolcs said Taal’s main crater emitted 11,072 tons of volcanic sulfur dioxide. Vog or volcanic smog was also observed.

The emission, however, was lower than 18,638 tons recorded on March 28.

Taal Volcano remains under  Alert Level 1 or “low-level unrest.”

A 2,400-meter tall plume described as a “voluminous emission” was also reported Saturday, which drifted south-southeast to north-northwest.

Long-term deflation of the Taal caldera was observed, accompanied by short-term inflation of the general northern and southeastern flanks of the Taal Volcano Island.

Hazy conditions were reported over Alitagtag, Tingloy, San Nicolas, Laurel, Taysan, Lobo and Batangas City.

The same was observed during a field survey in Agoncillo, Lemery, Taal, Santa Teresita, Alitagtag, Cuenca, Lipa, Balete and Malvar.

Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said there is no indication that Taal Volcano will erupt anew despite increased degassing, adding that only one volcanic earthquake was recorded in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Bacolcol advised affected residents to wear N95 face masks when going out to protect themselves from vog.

He said prolonged exposure to volcanic sulphur dioxide can cause  irritation of the eyes, throat and respiratory tract.

The Phivolcs official said people who may be particularly sensitive are those with health conditions such as asthma, lung disease and heart disease, the elderly, pregnant women and children.

Residents vulnerable to volcanic SO2 were advised to limit exposure, avoid outdoor activities, stay indoors and shut doors and windows to block out volcanic gas.