World · Philippines Bureau
Taal Volcano shows fresh unrest with phreatic eruptions, tremors
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported two steam-driven eruptions and elevated seismic activity at Taal Volcano within a 24-hour period, signaling renewed volcanic unrest in the region.
LSN Philippines ·
LUCENA CITY — Taal Volcano exhibited signs of increased activity following two minor phreatic eruptions and a marked rise in earthquake frequency, authorities said Monday. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) documented the steam-driven eruptions, known locally as "pusngat," occurring at 7:31 p.m. and at subsequent times within the monitoring period.
The spike in seismic activity accompanied the eruptive events, prompting Phivolcs to issue updates on the volcano's status. Phreatic eruptions are driven by heated groundwater and steam rather than magma, and typically represent lower-level volcanic unrest compared to magmatic activity.
The renewed activity comes as authorities continue monitoring Taal Volcano, one of the Philippines' most active and closely watched volcanic systems. Located in Batangas province, the volcano poses potential hazards to nearby communities and settlements in the surrounding areas.
Phivolcs urged residents and local government units in proximity to the volcano to remain vigilant and stay informed of any updates to volcanic alert levels or advisories that may be issued based on ongoing monitoring data.
Photo: Aerial view of Taal Volcano island in Taal Lake, Batangas, December 2012. TheCoffee (Mike Gonzalez) via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).