Taal Volcano Records Minor Eruption and 6 Seismic Events

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported a minor phreatic eruption at Taal Volcano on the evening of Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The event, locally called a “pusngat,” was accompanied by a series of volcanic earthquakes and tremors over a 24-hour monitoring period.

Despite the activity, the volcano remains under Alert Level 1, signifying low-level unrest, though authorities remind the public that sudden steam-driven explosions can occur without warning.

The minor eruption was captured by the main crater’s IP camera and occurred at 7:10 p.m.

  • Duration: The event lasted approximately one minute.
  • Plume: It generated a moderate plume of steam and volcanic gas reaching a height of 100 meters.
  • Type of Activity: This was a phreatic eruption, which is a steam-driven explosion that happens when water (groundwater or surface water) is heated by magma or hot volcanic rocks.

This latest “pusngat” is the fourth minor eruptive event recorded at Taal in April 2026 alone:

  1. April 6: A two-minute phreatic burst.
  2. April 9: A two-minute phreatomagmatic eruption (interaction of water and magma).
  3. April 10: A one-minute phreatomagmatic episode.
  4. April 21: The current one-minute phreatic eruption.

Over the last 24 hours, the Taal Volcano Network recorded:

  • Seismic Activity: Four volcanic earthquakes and two tremors, with durations ranging from one to three minutes.
  • Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂): Emissions reached 783 metric tons per day, which is considered moderate.
  • Vog Status: No volcanic smog (vog) was detected in the surrounding communities, and no upwelling of hot volcanic fluids was observed in the Main Crater Lake.

PHIVOLCS maintains that the Taal Volcano Island (TVI) is a Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ). Entering the island, especially the Main Crater and Daang Kastila fissures, is strictly prohibited due to the risk of:

  • Sudden phreatic explosions.
  • High concentrations of volcanic gas.
  • Minor ashfall.

Local government units are advised to continuously monitor the situation and ensure that residents and tourists stay away from the high-risk zones.

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