(Photo by Marou Sarne)
This is the second minor eruption at the Taal Volcano, following a substantial release of sulfur dioxide smoke on November 30, 2024.
(Video by Marou Sarne from Talisay, Batangas)
Yesterday's minor eruption lasted for 4 minutes and produced a smoke column reaching 2,800 meters.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that, based on their monitoring, the ashfall affected Poblacion, Agoncillo, and Buso-buso, Laurel, Batangas.
Taal Volcano, currently at Alert Level 1, has been showing increasing volcanic gas emissions and changes in ground deformation since September. There have also been minor tremors in the volcano.
"At Alert Level 1, sudden steam-driven or phreatic or minor phreatomagmatic eruptions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within the Taal Volcano Island (TVI). Should phreatomagmatic activity at Taal persist or intensify, then the Alert Level may be raised to Alert Level 2," warns the DOST - Phivolcs.
Yesterday's minor eruption was caused by the mixing of water with magma beneath the Taal Main Crater.
