Taal Volcano had a series of minor eruptions on Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.
Phivolcs said it recorded one phreatic and two phreatomagmatic explosions at the volcano’s main crater.
The phreatic eruption occurred at 2:55 a.m., followed by phreatomagmatic events at 8:13 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. The eruptions generated plumes between 1,200 and 2,100 meters above the crater.
A phreatic eruption occurs when water comes into contact with hot volcanic materials such as rocks or gases.
No magma is involved in this type of eruption, which produces only a steam plume.
Meanwhile, a phreatomagmatic eruption happens when magma interacts with water, generating steam, ash, and occasionally fragmented volcanic materials.
Taal is one of the country’s most active volcanoes. It is believed to be the smallest active volcano in the world.
Phivolcs, however, maintains the Alert Level 1 status of Taal Volcano, which means ‘low-level unrest.’
Nevertheless, Phivolcs warned that sudden phreatic or phreatomagmatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations of volcanic gases may still occur in the main crater.
Phivolcs said people are prohibited from going to the volcano island, particularly the main crater, owing to the risk of sudden hazardous events.