00:00A new minor eruption has been reported in the Taal Volcano.
00:03Meanwhile, according to PHIVOX, the volcano is still under Alert Level 1.
00:08This means that the volcano is in an abnormal state and there is still a possibility that activity has increased.
00:15Residents near the Taal Volcano are being told to remain alert and to follow the news and recommendations of PHIVOX.
00:23Meanwhile, to give us an update on the situation of the Taal Volcano, we will talk to PHIVOX Director, Dr. Teresito Bacolcol.
00:33Good morning, Dr. Bacolcol.
00:35Yes, ma'am. Good morning to you too.
00:38Sir, what is the update on the Taal Volcano?
00:42Okay. So earlier, between 5.58am to 6.02am, 4 minutes, we had a phreatic eruption.
00:49The height reached 2,800 meters.
00:53So far, we have received reports that there was a thin fog.
00:59Laurel, Barangay Bosuboso in Laurel is on the western side of the Taal Volcano.
01:06The phreatic eruption was not followed.
01:12Under this condition, should someone be evacuated at this time?
01:17No. What we have reported is that the fog is thin and people should not be evacuated.
01:29They should not enter the Taal Volcano Island because the whole island is a permanent danger zone.
01:35What is the difference between this and the minor eruptions of the past few days, Doc?
01:42It's the same. The phreatic eruptions that we observed in the past few days,
01:49on November 29, we had a minor phreatic eruption that reached 1,200 meters.
01:59On November 28, 1,500 meters. Basically, all of those are phreatic eruptions.
02:09What is the danger of this and is it a sign that there could be a bigger eruption?
02:15Hopefully, it won't happen.
02:17Phreatic eruptions with high altitudes can have a fog.
02:22If we have a fog, our respiratory tract can be irritated.
02:28We are advising our countrymen that if this happens, they should wear face masks.
02:35If this is a sign of a bigger eruption, we cannot say.
02:45For now, there are only two parameters that we are looking at.
02:50We are looking at other parameters to say if this will lead to a major eruption.
02:57For the past 24 hours, we have reported only two volcanic earthquakes in the Taal Volcano.
03:03This is a very important parameter.
03:05If we have a fog, it means there is a magma rising.
03:10If this happens, there could be a major eruption.
03:15But so far, as I've said, we have reported only two volcanic earthquakes for the past 24 hours.
03:20Thank you very much for your time, Director Bacolod.
