Residents near
the Taal Volcano were
urged to remain indoors
after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology observed increased activity and sulfur
dioxide emission.
“Sulfur dioxide is
acidic and if it blends with
water vapor, it becomes
vog, and this would cause
irritation of the eyes, throat
and respiratory tract. The
severity would depend on
the gas concentration and
exposure,” said Phivolcs
officer-in-charge Teresito
Bacolcol.
“Those who will
be sensitive to vog would
be those with health conditions like asthma, lung disease and heart disease,
the elderly, the pregnant,
and the children,” he added.
He said residents
are advised to stay indoors
while making sure to close
their doors and windows.
Those who have to go out
should wear a protective
N95 face mask.
In its 5 a.m. bulletin yesterday, Phivolcs
said 9,391 tons of sulfur
dioxide were released
from the volcano, which
is higher compared to the
5,831 tons recorded on
Thursday, June 1.
A plume reaching
up to 1,800 meters tall was
also seen drifting northwest from the volcano,
state seismologists said.
Alert Level 1 remained over Taal Volcano,
signifying low-level unrest.
Meanwhile, Phivolcs-Bicol said a major
explosion of the Mayon
Volcano is “unlikely.”
“Right now, the
scenario of a major eruption is quite remote,” Phivolcs-Bicol’s Dr. Paul Alanis said in a television
interview yesterday.
“But of course,
there is still the possibility of small eruptions,” he
added.
Mayon Volcano is under Alert Level 2,
which means there is current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes
that could eventually lead
to phreatic eruptions or
even precede hazardous
magmatic eruptions.
The Office of Civil Defense said they are
coordinating with Phivolcs
in monitoring Mayon Volcano’s activities.
“We have instructed our regional civil
defense offices and regional DRRM councils to
ensure that all preparations are in place in case
a repeat of the previous
volcanic episodes happen.
This is standard procedure
for the OCD as we continue to ensure that local
governments are onboard
and ready for any contingency,” Civil Defense Administrator and NDRRMC
Executive Director Usec.
Ariel Nepomuceno said.
“Though there
is no imminent threat of
a major eruption coming
from Taal and Mayon, as
seen in the latest bulletins
of Phivolcs, our mandate
to proactively prepare for
these possible hazards
dictates that preparations
continue to prevent casualties and other damages.”
he added.
The Civil Aviation
Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Tuesday
issued another notice to
airmen (Notam), this time
advising them to avoid flying not only near Mayon
and Taal volcanoes, but also Kanlaon.
“The CAAP has
updated its Notice to Airmen to inform and alert
flying aircraft of the current
alert levels and associated
risks in light of the ongoing
unrest at the Taal, Mayon, and Kanlaon volcanoes,” said Eric Apolonio,
spokesperson of the agency.
Apolonio said
Kanlaon Volcano is currently on Alert Level 1, indicating an abnormal condition.
“Flight operators
are strongly advised to
avoid flying in close proximity to the volcano’s summit due to the possibility
of sudden and hazardous
steam-driven or phreatic
eruptions,” he said.
“Such eruptions
may pose a significant
hazard to aircraft from the
surface up to 10,000 feet.
Additionally, entry within the 4km radius of the
permanent danger zone
of Kanlaon Volcano has
been prohibited,” he added. MS
