World · Philippines Bureau
Taal Volcano releases steam and ash in minor phreatic eruption
Taal Volcano in Batangas province discharged a modest phreatic eruption early Tuesday morning, sending a plume of steam and volcanic material 300 meters into the air. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded the brief event but reported no significant threats to nearby communities.
LSN Philippines ·
The volcano's minor phreatic eruption occurred at 12:29 a.m., according to monitoring data from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Such eruptions, driven by heated groundwater rather than new magma, are common at Taal and typically pose limited hazards in the immediate vicinity.
The ash plume rose approximately 300 meters above the crater before dispersing, Phivolcs officials said. Phreatic eruptions at Taal are generally short-lived events characterized by steam explosions that fracture and eject existing rock material from the volcano's surface.
Phivolcs continues to maintain close surveillance of the volcano, which sits roughly 65 kilometers south of Manila. The agency has not raised alert levels following the eruption and advised the public to remain vigilant for any changes in volcanic activity. Residents living within restricted zones around the volcano are advised to heed all official warnings and evacuation orders should they be issued.