Manila: Minor eruptions are a regular occurrence in Taal Volcano, according to the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), Director Teresito Bacolcol. These comments followed a recent minor eruption recorded at 2:02 a.m. on Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the latest eruption lasted approximately 13 minutes and released a 2,500 meter-high plume that drifted northwest. Bacolcol noted that more than 90 phreatic and phreatomagnetic eruptions have been documented since April of the previous year.

Bacolcol emphasized that Taal Volcano experiences eruptions almost every month, with recent minor phreatomagnetic eruptions recorded on September 11 and July 17. He urged the public to avoid entering the Taal Volcano Island or the permanent danger zone due to the potential hazards.

Currently, Taal Volcano remains at Alert Level 1, indicating the possibility of sudden steam or phreatic eruptions, volcanic earthquakes, thin ashfall, and the emission of poisonous gases. Despite the recent activity, Bacolcol stated that raising the alert level is unlikely at this time, as other parameters are being considered. For example, no earthquakes have been recorded in Taal Volcano within the past 24 hours.

Bacolcol clarified that the minor eruption in Taal has no connection to the magnitude 6.9 offshore earthquake that occurred near Cebu late Tuesday. The earthquake was attributed to an offshore active fault northeast of Cebu Island, as reported by Phivolcs.