Wandan mud dome, one of the nation’s 17 active mud volcanoes, erupted early yesterday after nearly a year of inactivity, spewing mud up to 2m high.
At noon yesterday, hot gray mud was still spewing from the volcano in Pingtung County and residents could be seen lighting fires nearby to burn off the gases emitted.
The mud flowing from three cracks in Sinyuan Township (新園) spread to a public cemetery and a corn field, but no other damage was reported.
Photo: CNA
The eruption occurred south of Wandan Township (萬丹), where the first eruption was recorded in the 1720s.
The eruptions typically take place once or twice every year. There has not been an eruption in Sinyuan Township for nearly half a century, residents said.
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