By RK Shih/Staff (Image via CNA)
PINGTUNG — The famous Wandan mud volcano (萬丹泥火山) in Pingtung County erupted around 5 a.m. Wednesday and continued spewing mud through at least 8 a.m., marking its second eruption this year.
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According to the Pingtung County Government, mud volcanoes are a rare geological phenomenon caused by high-pressure gases such as methane forcing underground water and mudstone to the surface through cracks. The Wandan mud volcano, located near Wannei Village (灣內村) on the border of Wandan and Xinyuan townships, has been active since 1988 and typically erupts at least once a year.
Wednesday’s eruption coincided with heavy rain and winds brought by a tropical storm affecting southern Taiwan. Mud flows entered nearby red bean fields, prompting workers to dig diversion channels to prevent contamination of drainage ditches. Villagers also ignited small flames to burn off methane and other gases to prevent dangerous buildup.
The caretaker of Huangyuan Temple (皇源聖殿), Chang Pao-hui (張寶惠), told reporters that this eruption came about six months after the last and involved as many as five vents—each roughly 50 meters apart, with some rising more than two meters high.
A Live Science article explained that mud volcanoes are a “rare and spectacular phenomenon” found in southern Taiwan. While farmers regard them as a nuisance due to damage from the thick gray mud, they are rarely dangerous. Once dried, the mud hardens into dense clay that is difficult to remove. Still, the spectacle often attracts visitors eager to watch or photograph the eruptions, and nearby temples even regard them as spiritually meaningful events linked to the rhythms of nature.
