Taal Volcano placed under Alert Level 3 following Saturday’s Eruption

Following eight months of being placed under Alert Level 2, Batangas is now under Alert Level 3 as Taal Volcano experienced a phreatomagmatic eruption on March 26.

Alert Level 2 is classified as increasing unrest while Alert Level 3 signifies magmatic unrest.

Last Saturday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that a “short-lived phreatomagmatic burst” was followed by “nearly continuous phreatomagmatic activity that generated plumes.” Phivolcs then added that the plumes reached a height of three kilometers while 66 “discrete explosions” were detected by five infrasound stations.

According to 11 out of 16 seismic stations, the phreatomagmatic eruption lasted until 8:59 am.

“This means that there is magmatic intrusion at the main crater that may further drive succeeding eruptions,” Phivolcs explained.

On the same day, around 600 families or 2,000 individuals were evacuated from the high-risk areas. Furthermore, the institute stated that all activities surrounding Taal Lake should be prohibited and that communities must remain vigilant.

In January 2020, Taal Volcano experienced a major eruption as it reached Alert Level 4.

Phivolcs Officer-in-Charge Renato Solidum Jr., notes that the movement of magma is slower than it was during the last major explosion. This indicated that the gas within the volcano has time to escape, instead of building up beneath the surface and causing a larger eruption.

“Kumbaga hindi na masyadong explosive ang eruptions na nakikita natin compared nung January 2020, kung saan ‘yung magma sa ilalim ay mabilis na umakyat, hindi na-release ang gas at naipon doon sa loob ng magma, na sumabog ng malakas,” Solidum said in a government briefing on Saturday.

(We don’t see eruptions becoming as explosive as the one in January 2020, where magma rose rapidly to the surface and gas accumulated, leading to the strong eruption.)

“Ang kailangan pa namin gawin, bantayan kung may bagong magma na manggagaling sa ilalim at kung gaano siya kabilis umakyat, kasi ‘pag ganito po ang pangyayari na mabilis umakyat ang bagong magma, doon po nagtri-trigger ng mas malakas na eruption,” Solidum said.

(What we still need to do is monitor if new magma would emerge and how fast it would rise because if magma rises quickly, it could trigger a stronger eruption.)

Source: Rappler