PHIVOLCS records four phreatic eruptions from Taal Volcano on Friday

There were four discrete phreatic or steam-driven eruption events from Taal Volcano that were recorded on Friday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported.

The eruption events were recorded by the Taal Volcano Network (TVN) from 9:45 a.m. to 3:22 p.m., as seen on the VTMC (Main Crater) observation station.

"The eruption emanated from a new vent on the southwest side of the Taal Main Crater and generated plumes that rose 100-300 meters before drifting west," the agency said.

The PHIVOLCS also said that the seismic and Infrasound detection for these events were disrupted due to power interruptions and fluctuations at the Taal Volcano Observatory (TVO).

PHIVOLCS defines phreatic eruption as “steam-driven explosion that occur when water beneath the ground or on the surface is heated by magma, lava, hot rocks, or new volcanic deposits.”

Alert Level 1 is maintained over Taal volcano, which means that it is still in abnormal condition and should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity. — BAP, GMA Integrated News