Minor eruptive events monitored at Taal Volcano — PHIVOLCS

State volcanologists on Thursday afternoon monitored minor phreatomagmatic eruptive events at restive Taal Volcano in Batangas.

In an update, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said the events occurred at the Taal Main Crater between 03:01 p.m. and 03:13 p.m. 

PHIVOLCS initially reported a “minor phreatic eruption” but later clarified that it should be “minor phreatomagmatic eruptive events.”

Phreatic eruption is a sudden and usually short-lived eruption, triggered by the contact of groundwater with hot rocks underneath the volcano, according to PHIVOLCS.

Meanwhile, phreatomagmatic eruption happens after a contact of groundwater with a magmatic body or molten rocks, it added.

The development comes amid continuing search and retrieval operations at Taal Lake for the remains of missing cockfight enthusiasts or missing sabungeros.

In a press conference, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said authorities will heed PHIVOLCS' advise on whether or not it is safe to proceed with search. 

Asked if the search operations will be halted due to the minor phreatic eruption at the Taal Volcano, Remulla said, "Well, pag hindi healthy—, kung ito ay magiging balikad sa health ng tao tigil muna. PHIVOLCS will advise us kung ano, kung safe or hindi," he said.

(Well, if it's not healthy—if this will be detrimental to people's health, then we stop for now. PHIVOLCS will advise us on what to do, whether it's safe or not.)

Taal's activity

PHIVOLCS Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division chief Ma. Antonia V. Bornas communicated the following points to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in light of the search operations.

• This kind of volcanic activity/ eruption of Taal Volcano, being at Alert Level 1, has been usual and recurring since 2021
• The direction of the plume is southeast, which is opposite the direction or location of the retrieval operations (i.e., northwest)
• The high risk area for phreatic and phreatomagmatic eruptions is the Taal Volcano Island or TVI. At Alert Level 1, the entry to TVI which is also the Permanent Danger Zone is prohibited

In its daily bulletin on Thursday, PHIVOLCS said Alert Level 1 remained in effect over Taal, indicating low-level unrest. The monitoring period covered midnight of July 16, Wednesday, until midnight of July 17, Thursday.

No volcanic earthquakes were recorded during the monitoring period.

On Tuesday, Taal spewed 504 tons of sulfur dioxide with a 400-meter plume which drifted northeast.

Technical divers from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) have been challenged by murky waters in the massive Taal Lake, which spans 234 square kilometers or nine times as large as the City of Manila. 

It also has a depth of 198 meters or the equivalent to a 60-storey building.

Even with the deployment of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the search effort has remained daunting. — With a report from Joviland Rita/VDV/RF, GMA Integrated News