The Taal Volcano in Batangas saw phreatomagmatic bursts on Friday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Between 8:50 and 9:50 a.m., Taal Volcano’s main crater experienced a total of 19 “very weak” phreatomagmatic bursts coming from a vent on its northeastern flank. and 1:30 p.m. Phivolcs said Friday.

Phivolcs continued, “Some of the blasts generated steam-rich plumes 200 meters high.”

“Many of the bursts were obscured by ongoing upwelling of hot volcanic gas in the [Main Crater Lake], while all events did not generate detectable signals in the seismic and infrasound records,” They continued.

The Taal Volcano is still at Alert Level 1, which indicates that it is still in an anomalous state and should not be taken to mean that the threat of eruptive activity has subsided.

Phivolcs further cautioned that when the current phreatomagmatic activity intensifies or obvious changes in monitored parameters suggest escalating disturbance, Alert Level 2 may be raised over the volcano.

“At Alert Level 1, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within [the Taal Volcano Island],” they stated.

On January 12, 2020, the Taal Volcano experienced a steam-driven eruption that resulted in ash fall that affected areas of Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.

More than 700,000 people in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Metro Manila were displaced by the eruption.