Taal Volcano

Updated: Mar 28, 2025 19:46 GMT - refresh

caldera

Luzon, Philippines, 14°N / 120.99°E

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Summit height: 311 m / 1,020 ft

Current status: minor activity or eruption warning (3 out of 5)

Last update: 19 Feb 2025 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

Aerial photo of Taal Volcano on December 22, 2012 (image: Mike Gonzalez, Wikimedia Commons, see text for link)

Taal volcano with its lake-filled 15x20 km wide Talisay (Taal) caldera is a beautiful caldera volcano, but also one of the most active and dangerous volcanoes of the Philippines. Taal has had some of the country's largest and deadliest eruptions: At least 6 eruptions during the recorded history of Taal since 1572 claimed fatalities, mostly from powerful pyroclastic flows, as well as tsunamis produced in the crater lake.

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Typical eruption style: Explosive
Taal volcano eruptions: 2020, 1977, 1976, 1970, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1911, 1904, 1903, 1885(?), 1878, 1874, 1873, 1842, 1825, 1808, 1790, 1754, 1749, 1731, 1729, 1716, 1715, 1709, 1707, 1645, 1641, 1635, 1634, 1609, 1591, 1572

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Background

The Taal caldera is largely filled by Lake Taal, whose 267 sq km surface lies only 3 m above sea level. The maximum depth of the lake is 160 m, and contains several eruptive centers submerged beneath the lake. All historic eruptions took place from the 5-km-wide volcanic island in the northern-central part of the lake.
The island is formed by overlapping stratovolcanoes, cinder cones and tuff rings (maars). Historic eruptions have seen the constant change and growth of the island.
Taal caused one of the worst volcano disasters in history: its eruption in 1911 killed 1334 people and caused ash fall as far as Manila city. Due to its devastating potential, Taal was declared one of the "Decade Volcanoes" in the Decade Volcanoes program of the 1990s in order to incentive study and monitoring of the volcano. Taal is today one of the most closely monitored volcanoes in the region. An increase in seismic activity under Taal was recorded in November 2006, followed by an increase in hot water springs in the crater in April 2007.

Aerial image of Taal Volcano Island credit: TheCoffee (Mike Gonzalez), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Significant volcanic eruptions: Taal volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Taal has had at least 40 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 39 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1885 from Taal volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Taal volcano since around 1800. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Taal can be found on the news page of Taal volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths	Damage
2024 Apr 12 -	Historical obs./docs.	?
2022 Oct 5 - Oct 29	Historical obs./docs.	1
2021 Nov 15 - 2022 Apr 1	Main Crater Historical obs./docs.	2
2021 Nov 15 - Nov 22	Historical obs./docs.	?
2021 Jul 1 - Jul 9	Historical obs./docs.	1
2020 Jan 12 - Jan 22	Historical obs./docs.	4
2020 Jan 12 (eruption 2020 Jan 12 - Jan 22)	Historical obs./docs.	4	39	heavy	Info
2020 Jan 12: PHIVOLCS reported that seismicity at Taal began to increase on 28 March 2019 and fluctuated between moderate and high levels throughout the year and into 2020. A seismic swarm beneath Taal began at 1100 on 12 January and a phreatic eruption commenced at 1300. The initial eruptive activity was characterized by increased steaming from at least five vents in Main Crater and phreatic explosions that generated 100-m-high plumes. PHIVOLCS raised the Alert Level to 2 (on a scale of 0-5) and reminded the public that the entire Volcano Island (the main cone of Taal) is in a Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ). (ref #12606) Taal Volcano entered a period of intense unrest beginning with phreatic or steam-driven activity in several points inside the Main Crater at 1:00 PM of 12 January 2020 that progressed into magmatic eruption at 02:49 AM to 04:28 AM of 13 January 2020. (reference #12599) A large eruption began at Taal volcano, Philippines on 12 January 2020. Ash emissions reached 55,000 ft altitude. Reports of ash falling at Alabang, 45 km north of the volcano and Manila metro. Flights were cancelled at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manilla due to ash. Taal volcano progressed to a magmatic eruption on 13 January 2020. On the evening of 13 January 500 m high lava fountains occurred at the volcano. (ref #12597) The Philippine Seismic Network (PSN) plotted a total of 2361 volcanic earthquakes as of 10 February 2020, 1:16 AM. A total of 14,082 houses damaged (4573 - Totally / 9509 - Partially) in the Province of Batangas (Region CALABARZON) as of 06 March 2020. A total 191,952 families / 736,802 persons were affected in the Regions III, Calabarzon and NCR, as of 06 March 2020. A total of 24 cities/municipalities experienced power interruption in the Provinces of Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas (CALABARZON). As of 07 February 2020, all reported areas have restored power. A total of P3,408,763,882.00 worth of damage to infrastructure and agriculture was incurred in the provinces of Batangas, Laguna and Cavite (CALABARZON).(ref #12598, 12609, 12612, 12641, 12663) The government has recorded 39 deaths during the span of the evacuation and disaster response since Taal Volcano erupted on January 12 [...] While no one died nor was hospitalized during the phreatic eruption on January 12, the Department of Health has already recorded 39 deaths as of February 1, Mandanas said. The recorded deaths were mostly due to anxiety and negligence of the casualties. A number of evacuees were reported to have died of heart attack during the evacuation and while staying at the evacuation centers [...]By negligence, Mandanas was referring to deaths related to hard-headed evacuees who opted to remain or return to the danger zone despite the prohibition. (ref #12819) 66 million USD total damages (ref #1250) Cited references #1250 Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) and the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) (2001): EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database, Universite Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, link #12597 Seach, John (Volcano Live) (2020): Taal Volcano. Accessed 14 January 2020. Link #12598 Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (2020): Situational Report No. 07 re Taal Volcano Eruption. Published 14 January 2020. #12599 Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) (2020): Taal Volcano Bulletin. Issued at 13 January 2020 8:00 A.M #12606 Global Volcanism Program (2020): Report on Taal (Philippines). In: Sennert, S K (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 8 January-14 January 2020. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey. #12609 Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (2020): Situational Report No. 18 re Taal Volcano Eruption. Published 17 January 2020. #12612 Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (2020): Situational Report No. 39 re Taal Volcano Eruption. Published 24 January 2020. #12641 Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (2020): Situational Report No. 71 re Taal Volcano Eruption. Published 10 February 2020. #12663 Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (2020): Situational Report No. 87 re Taal Volcano Eruption. Published 06 March 2020. #12819 Manila Times (2020): 39 deaths recorded during Taal Volcano's eruption. Published 01 February 2020. Link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1977 Oct 3 - Nov 12 ?	SW flank (near Mt. Tabaro) Historical obs./docs.	2
1976 Sep 3 - Oct 17	SW flank (near Mt. Tabaro) Historical obs./docs.	2
1970 Nov 9 - Nov 13	SW flank (near Mt. Tabaro) Historical obs./docs.	1
1969 Oct 29 - Dec 10	SW flank (near Mt. Tabaro) Historical obs./docs.	2
1968 Jan 31 - Apr 2	SW flank (near Mt. Tabaro) Historical obs./docs.	2
1967 Aug 16 - Aug 19	SW flank (near Mt. Tabaro) Historical obs./docs.	1
1966 Jul 5 - Aug 4	SW flank (near Mt. Tabaro) Historical obs./docs.	3
1965 Sep 28 - Sep 30	SW flank (near Mt. Tabaro) Historical obs./docs.	4
1965 Sep 28 (eruption 1965 Sep 28 - Sep 30)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	4	355	light	Info
1965 Sep 28: 1965, Sept 28. Estimates range 150 to 355 including those drowned and several murdered. Witham lists range of 190-355. Many of the fatalities occurred when tsunami capsized boats filled with fleeing residents. Newspaper and other reports suggesting 3,000-5,000 deaths are very unreliable. (reference #9675) Such waves have formed in at least five major eruptions at Taal, those of 1716 September 24, 1749 August 11, 1754 November 28, 1911 January 30, and 1965 September 30. All have caused casualties. (reference #1686) 1965, Sept 28. Eruptive Characteristics: Flank (excentric) vent, New island formation, Crater lake eruption, Explosive eruption, Pyroclastic flow(s), Phreatic explosion(s), Fatalities, Damage (land, property, etc.), Tsunami (giant sea waves). Area of Activity: SW flank (near Mt. Tabaro). (reference #2432) A moderately violent phreatomagmatic explosive eruption of Taal Volcano, in the Philippines, occurred from 28 to 30 September 1965. The main phreatic explosions, which were preceded by ejection of basaltic spatter, opened a new crater 1.5 kilometers long and 0.3 kilometer wide on the southwest side of Volcano Island in Lake Taal. The eruption covered an area of about 60 square kilometers with a blanket of ash more than 25 centimeters thick and killed approximately 190 persons. The clouds that formed during the explosive eruption rose to heights of 15 to 20 kilometers and deposited fine ash as far as 80 kilometers west of the vent. At the base of the main explosion column, flat, turbulent clouds spread radially, with hurricane velocity, transporting ash, mud, lapilli, and blocks. The horizontally moving, debris-laden clouds sandblasted trees, coated the blast side of trees and houses with mud, and deposited coarse ejecta with dune-type bedding in a zone roughly 4 kilometers in all directions from the explosion crater. (reference #5094) Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1686 Latter, J.H. (1981): Tsunamis of volcanic origin; summary of causes with particular reference to Krakatoa, 1883, Bulletin Volcanologique, Vol. 44, p. 467-490. #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #5094 Moore, J.G., K. Nakamura, and A. Alcaraz (1966): The 1965 eruption of Taal Volcano. Science, vol. 151, p. 955-960. #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1911 Jan 27 - Feb 8	Historical obs./docs.	3
1911 Jan 30 (eruption 1911 Jan 27 - Feb 8)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	3	1,335	heavy	Info
1911 Jan 30: 1911, Jan 30. Estimated 1,335 killed chiefly by pyroclastic flows. Only 732 bodies found. 12 or 13 on island survived but all badly injured. Heiser, medical officer at time, estimates deaths at about 2,000. (reference #9675) This increase in volcanic activity coincided with the first microseismic movements registered in Manila at 20h20m of the 27th. It appears that the explosions began to assume a terrific violence at 1 o'clock in the morning of the 30th. Shortly after 2 a.m. the volcano burst forth with frightful energy. A terrible roar which seemed to be at the same time subterraneous and in the air and could be heard in all directions from the volcano up to distances exceeding 500 km. At the same time there was seen an immense, threatening, black cloud, crossed by brilliant flashes of lightning and illumined by local explosions resembling globular lightning, the whole accompanied by peals of thunder for the space of half an hour. This tempestuous cloud must have risen to an enormous height, since it was observed from distances of some 400 km. The chief feature of the eruption seems to have been a terrible explosion which with incredible violence hurled high up into the air and scattered in all directions glowing rocks, earth, mud, ashes, and gases. ..this death-dealing mixture mowed down or destroyed whatever it encountered in its path on the entire island and on the neighboring western shores of Lake Bombon. It cut down or uprooted trees and other plants, destroyed houses, and killed well-nigh every living being within a radius of 5 to 6 km to the east of the crater, and up to more than 15 km to the west thereof. Of the 1,300 victims who perished in the 13 small barrios-some on Volcano Island itself, others on the western shore-many were killed in the act of fleeing; others were found buried underneath or among the debris of their huts which had been brought down upon them and torn to pieces, being partially covered with rocks and mud; some seem to have been killed by instantaneous asphyxiation, as they were found on their mats in the attitude of peaceful sleep. An idea of the condition in which this region was left by the eruption is given by the report of Col. William C. Rivers, Philippines Constabulary. In this report, written February 5, it is estimated that the number of victims had then already reached 1,295. We quote from it the following passages: The worst stricken district comprises Volcano Island and west side of lake. All vegetation, including trees, destroyed. Country all covered with gray mud hardening under sun present-uniform ashen color. Mud flattened and covers all houses and objects." After returning to Manila on the completion of his special mission, Colonel Rivers presented a final report in which the total number of dead is given as 1,335, that of the injured as 199. This report contains the further statement that 543 nipa houses have been destroyed and 702 head of cattle either drowned or otherwise lost owing to the eruption; the material losses, exclusive of ruined crops, are estimated at F130,159. The exact number of victims will probably never be known-first, because the waves have carried away many corpses and, no doubt, buried others beneath earth, trunks of trees, and other debris, which filled up many depressions in the ground; secondly, because some have surely met their doom while fleeing toward the jungle, where their bones remained more or less completely buried by the volcanic ashes. Moreover, the number of people who inhabited these regions is by no means known accurately, as they were in the habit of passing from one village to another according to their convenience in attending to their crops. (above from reference #2340) 1911, Jan 30. Taal, Batangas. Taal Volcano, 1335 victims. (reference #1058) Cited references #1058 Sevilla, Valenzuela and Bellosiool (1965): Seismicity of the Philippines. Individual Studies by Participants to the International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering, Tokyo, Japan, December 1965, vol. 2, Part 1, p. 34-63. #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1686 Latter, J.H. (1981): Tsunamis of volcanic origin; summary of causes with particular reference to Krakatoa, 1883, Bulletin Volcanologique, Vol. 44, p. 467-490. #2340 Maso, S.J., Rev. Miguel Saderra (1911): The Eruption of Taal Volcano January 30, 1911. Philippine Islands, Department of the Interior, Weather Bureau, Manila. #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. #10953 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 551 p. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1904 Apr - Jul 15 ±5 d.	Base of south wall of main crater Historical obs./docs.	1
1903 Apr	Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1885	Uncertain Eruption	?
1878 Nov 12 - Nov 15	Historical obs./docs.	2
1874 Jul 19	Historical obs./docs.	2
1874 Jul 19 (eruption 1874 Jul 19)	Historical obs./docs.	2	1-50 (*)		Info
1874 Jul 19: Unknown number of deaths. On July 19, 1874, took place an eruption of gases and ashes which killed all the live stock which was being raised on Volcano Island and withered or burned the entire vegetation on the western slopes of the crater. (reference #2340) Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #2340 Maso, S.J., Rev. Miguel Saderra (1911): The Eruption of Taal Volcano January 30, 1911. Philippine Islands, Department of the Interior, Weather Bureau, Manila. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1873	Historical obs./docs.	2
1842	Historical obs./docs.	2
1825	Historical obs./docs.	2
1808 Feb - Apr	Historical obs./docs.	2

(*) Estimated numbers

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Taal Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Taal volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Taal occurred in 2024.

+How often does Taal volcano erupt?

Since 1572 AD, Taal volcano has had at least 39 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 11.6 years.

+How active is Taal volcano at present?

Taal volcano is relatively active: Since 1900, it has had 15 eruptions, and been active during 15 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Taal has been in eruption one in 8.4 years on average. The last eruption was in 2024 and ended 3 months ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Taal volcano?

The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Taal volcano occurred around 3580 BC. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

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Taal Volcano Maps

Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).