The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) recorded a phreatomagmatic eruption on Wednesday, October 2, that lasted for around 11 minutes.
PHIVOLCS said that the eruption started at 4:21PM and lasted until 4:32PM.
Dr. Teresito Bacolcol, director of PHIVOLCS, also mentioned that Mt. Taal released a 2,400 meter high steam plume, and warned that it could cause ashfall in areas northeast of the volcano.
"Depende iyan sa direksyon ng hangin pero kanina papuntang northeast. Yung mga bayan na nasa northeast ng Taal Volcano would be Tanauan, Malvar, at Balete," Bacolcol said during DZRH's Balansyado.
(Depending on the direction but earlier it is going northeast. The towns at the northeast of Taal Volcano would be Tanauan, Malvar, and Balete)
"Hinihintay pa natin yung report kung may ashfall sa mga lugar na iyon," he added.
(We are still waiting for reports if there are ashfall in those areas)
PHIVOLCS assured that Taal Volcano, based on recent volcanic earthquake activity and ground deformation, shows no indications of a major magmatic eruption.
"The phreatomagmatic event was likely driven by sudden contact of water with a small branch of shallow magma that has been in place beneath the Taal Main Crater and that has been degassing sustained levels of SO2 for the past three years," PHIVOLCS said in an advisory.
However, PHIVOLCS remined the public to stay away from the Taal Volcano Island, a permanent danger zone, since the volcano remains under Alert Level 1.
"At Alert Level 1, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within the Taal Volcano Island," the agency stressed.
