Taal Volcano hydrothermal activity may cause new phreatic eruption –PHIVOLCS

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Director Renato Solidum on Tuesday said that the increasing hydrothermal activity monitored at Taal Volcano may lead to another phreatic eruption similar to the January 2020 eruption.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, Solidum said there was also an increase in seismic activities while the water underneath the volcano was causing the lake at the main crater to become acidic.

“At dito po natin nakikita sa kadahilanang umiinit, nagiging acidic, at maraming pagkilos dahil sa pagpapakulo ng tubig ay tumataas din ang posibilidad na magkaroon ng phreatic eruption,” he explained.

“Ang phreatic eruption, steam-driven explosion po ‘yan. Tubig ang napre-pressurized at posibleng magkaroon ng pagsabog at ‘yung gas na naiipon ay puwede din lethal o delikado sa buhay ng tao.”

Earlier, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Agoncillo, Batangas said forced evacuation were ongoing on Taal Volcano Island due to the increased seismic activities.

Taal was declared as a "no man's land," days after it erupted in January 2020.

According to Solidum, authorities need to monitor the magma activity of the volcano should a phreatic eruption occur.

“Puwede ba niya mainduce ‘yung magma umakyat papunta sa mas mababaw na parte at magdulog pa ng dagdag pang eruption? ‘Yun po ‘yung talagang binabantayan kasi ‘yan po ang nangyari nung January 12,” he said.

Solidum said that small and unfelt explosions at the crater may lead to a bigger eruption.

“Nag simula sa maliliit na explosion sa crater na hindi nakikita ng mga tao dahil nga nasa loob siya ng crater, pero ito po ay nag trigger ng biglang pag-akyat ng magma at nag patuloy sa mas malalakas na eruption,” he said.

“‘Yun po ‘yung dapat maintindihan ng mga tao na porke walang nakikita sa ibabaw na pangyayari sa bulkan, eh, walang nangyayari sa ilalim,” he added.

However, he clarified that a phreatic eruption was only dangerous for those living on Taal Volcano Island but not for those living on the mainland.

“‘Yung phreatic eruption, maliliit lang po ‘yun. Delikado lang po ‘yun doon sa isla. Lalong-lalo na kapag malapit ka doon sa crater o ‘di kaya sa bitak o fissure… basta anywhere on the island delikado,” he said.

In January 2020, the ash fall from the phreatic eruption of the volcano reached Metro Manila and other areas, and contributed to the N95 mask shortage. — DVM, GMA News