Phivolcs: No reported ashfall from Taal Volcano

MANILA: There was no reported ashfall due to the phreatomagmatic eruption in Taal Volcano on Wednesday, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Thursday.

“We did not receive any report of ashfall among the towns surrounding the Taal Volcano. Most likely, the ashes fell on the Taal Volcano Island (TVI),” Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon program.

On Wednesday night, Phivolcs reported that a minor phreatomagmatic eruption that lasted 11 minutes occurred in Taal Volcano, resulting in a short black jetted plume followed by a 2,400-meter-high steam-rich plume.

Phivolcs said the phreatomagmatic event was ‘likely driven by sudden contact of water with a small branch of shallow magma that has been in place beneath the Taal Main Crater and that has been degassing sustained levels of SO2 (sulfur dioxide) for the past three years.’

Bacolcol said people could experience difficulty in breathing, and irritation of throat and eyes if as
hfall reaches their areas.

The ashfall could also aggravate respiratory problems, he added.

The volcano remains under Alert Level 1, which means sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within the TVI.

Bacolcol said people should refrain from entering the TVI.

The phreatomagmatic eruption, he said, could happen so long as there is hot water and volcanic materials like magma.

Source: Philippines News Agency