TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A mud volcano in Pingtung County erupted Monday morning, marking its second eruption of the year after a similar event in February.
The eruption began at about 8:30 a.m. on Monday near Huang Yuan Temple in Wandan Township. Flames approximately one meter high were seen rising from the mud volcano as methane gas ignited, per UDN.
Pingtung County Councilor Hsu Chan-wei (許展維) said three vents opened during the eruption, all near previous eruption sites. The activity affected about 1,300 square meters of farmland, but agricultural losses were expected to be minimal because the fields are currently fallow.
Hsu said the village chief activated emergency response measures, including contacting a local contractor to dispatch excavators to the site. The heavy machinery will be used to prevent mud from flowing onto fields and disrupting irrigation. Water resource authorities have also been notified and asked to assist.
According to Hsu, the temple master ignited methane gas escaping from the vents to prevent a dangerous gas build-up, a common practice during mud volcano eruptions. Mud volcanoes are formed when high-pressure underground gases mix with groundwater, dissolving mudstone, creating a slurry that is pushed to the surface through fissures.
Local mud volcanoes typically erupt once or twice annually, with each event lasting about 10 hours. Officials said the temperature at the center of the eruption reaches about 60 C. Methane released during the event produces a distinctive odor, while the expelled mud eventually dries into a fine ash that can be difficult to remove.
