There's an "increasing possibility" of a phreatic or steam-driven eruption in Taal Volcano "similar" to the one experienced in January 2020, the country's chief volcanologist said Wednesday, February 18.
Such a threat, however, is limited to the volcano island that is inside Taal Lake, said Renato Solidum, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology chief.
Over a 24-hour period that ended early Wednesday, 69 tremors were recorded in the vicinity, he said. The prolonged tremors indicate hydrothermal activity, Solidum said. This means hot gas is escaping from beneath the ground, triggering earthquakes at it passes through magma or molten rocks, explained the chief.
The same phenomenon is causing the temperature in Taal Lake to rise.
"Tumataas ang posibilidad na magkaroon ng phreatic eruption or explosion na tulad ng nangyari noong January 12, 2020 sa Taal Volcano," Solidum told the Laging Handa public briefing. "Itong ganitong pangamba ay makakaapekto lamang sa kasalukuyan sa Volcano Island mismo. Kaya tayo nagremind na wala dapat pahintulutang tao na pumasok sa permanent danger zone," he said.
Dozens of villagers were evacuated from Volcano Island on Monday, February 15, after authorities noted an increase in volcanic earthquakes.
The activity felt early in 2020—which made the alert level jump from level one to a high alert level 4 in the matter of hours on January 12—were characterized by phreatic explosions as well. The current steam-driven activity though is seen to only affect the main crater's immediate surroundings, as explained by Solidum. Alert levels remain at the first rung as of PHIVOLCS 8 a.m. bulletin on February 18, Thursday.
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Source: Spot PH
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