Philippine volcano: 3 eruptions, 8 quakes in past 24 hours

Manila: Three explosions and eight volcanic earthquakes were recorded at the Taal Volcano in the last 24-hours, according to volcanologists.

The recent events produced plumes reaching 400 to 800 meters that drifted southwest. Over 1,000 families from nearby communities were taken to evacuation centers. Taal Volcano is an active volcano in the middle of a scenic lake about 50 km south of the Philippine capital Manila. 

The explosions were “phreatomagmatic” in nature — the type of volcanic eruptions resulting from interaction between magma and water, volcanologists explained.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) stated in a bulletin issued 8 am on Tuesday (March 29, 2022) that the phreatomagmatic bursts from the main crater were recorded at 9:30 am, 9:33 am, and 9:46 am on Monday.

The volcanic earthquakes consist of a five-minute volcanic tremor and seven low-frequency volcanic earthquakes.

“Activity at the main crater was dominated by upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in its lake which generated plumes 2,400 meters tall that drifted southwest. Sulfur dioxide  emission averaged 4,273 tonnes/day on 28 March 2022. Temperature highs of 63.7°C were last measured from the Main Crater Lake on 25 February 2022,” Phivolcs reported.

Alert Level 3 was raised over the Taal Volcano on Saturday after it showed a series of short phreatomagmatic bursts, which means there is a “magmatic intrusion” at the main crater “that may further drive succeeding eruptions.”