By Myris Lee
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Director Renato Solidum explained the difference between the Taal Volcano and Bulusan Volcano, which both had a phreatic eruption.
Taal Volcano had a phreatic eruption in January 2020, while Mount Bulusan erupted on Sunday morning, June 5.
In the June 7 Laging Handa briefing, Solidum said the situation in Taal in 2020 is different from the phreatic eruption of Mount Bulusan because it had phreatomagmatic bursts.
Phreatomagmatic bursts are volcanic eruptions resulting from interaction between magma and water.
According to Solidum, the magmatic intrusion at the main crater of the Taal Volcano and the continuous earthquake were the basis to place it at Alert Level 2.
“Naunang nagkaroon din ng phreatic or steam-driven explosion sa Taal noong January 2020.
Kaya lang, pagkatapos ng pagsabog na ‘yun, biglang umakyat ang magma mula sa mga malalim na parte at ito ay nakita natin sa pamamagitan ng pamamaga nang biglaan at pagkakaroon ng mga tuluy-tuloy na mga paglindol kaya itinaas natin ito sa Alert Level 2 kaagad-agad,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mount Bulusan is currently under Alert Level 1, indicating low unrest.
“Ito po ay hindi natin nakikita sa Bulkang Bulusan. So may magma na kasama sa eruption sa Taal, itong sa Bulusan ay wala pa po,” Solidum continued. – gb
