Taal Volcano 2020 eruption

Taal Volcano made its presence felt again today with a minor phreatomagmatic eruption at its main crater, lasting from 4:21 PM to 4:32 PM. It was a relatively brief event, but it did create a noticeable black plume, followed by steam-rich emissions that shot up to 2,400 meters above the crater. This plume drifted northeast, as seen on the monitors of the Taal Volcano Network (TVN).

This isn’t the first time Taal has been active recently. In fact, since September 22, a total of 18 phreatic events have been recorded, signaling that the volcano remains in an abnormal state. The cause? Likely the interaction of water with shallow magma beneath the Main Crater. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions are also a telltale sign. Today alone, 2,532 tonnes of SO2 were released. Since January, the average has been 6,712 tonnes/day.

Now, before anyone panics, experts at DOST-PHIVOLCS don’t see this activity escalating into a major magmatic eruption anytime soon. But they are keeping a close watch.

What does this mean for nearby communities? Even with just a minor eruption, Taal is still under Alert Level 1, which means there’s no room for complacency. At this level, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, minor ashfall, and hazardous volcanic gases can still pose risks. Residents are strongly advised to steer clear of the Taal Volcano Island (TVI) and the Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), especially near the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure.

Local governments have been urged to stay vigilant, and pilots are advised to avoid flying too close to the volcano. After all, ash and volcanic debris can pose serious hazards to aircraft.