TAAL VOG, MAYON ASH FLOW: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

(SPOT.ph) Volcanic smog (vog) hovers over the Taal Volcano on Friday, September 22, while over Mayon Volcano, Phivolcs continues to monitor activities like debris and ash flow.

As a few local government units (LGUs) observing foggy skies in Metro Manila have suspended classes citing the Taal vog, Phivolcs said the vog only affects areas on the west-southwest of the volcano, not towards the capital region.

Also read: Taal Alert Level 3: Is An Eruption Similar to 2020 Likely?

Taal Volcano update: Vog, steam plumes rising

Phivolcs released a vog notice on Thursday noon, noting that vog has been forming over the Taal Region since first week of September.

Also being monitored are steam plumes as high as 2.4 kilometers that drifts west-southwestward and southwestward. It also spewed 4,568 tons of sulfur dioxide on September 21. Phivolcs tallied five volcanic tremors that lasted 20 minutes to more than 9 hours long.

Vog contains volcanic gas such as sulfur dioxide, and with it being acidic, it can irritate the eyes, throat, and respiratory tract depending on the concentration and duration of exposure to it.

Residents living around the area are advised to cover their nose and mouth, ideally with N95 face masks, limit their exposure, avoid outdoor activities and stay indoors, and shut the doors and windows to stop the vog from coming indoors.

Acid rain is also possible during rainfall in areas affected by volcanic gas emission and it can damage metal roofs and crops.

Taal Volcano is still under Alert Level 1 (low-level unrest), where sudden phreatic eruption or steam-driven explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall and possible expulsion of volcanic gas can happen.

Mayon Volcano update: Volcanic earthquakes, ash flow

Mayon Volcano recorded 15 volcanic earthquakes, over 162 rockfall events, and two pyroclastic density currents (PDC) or flows of ash and debris in just the past 24 hours, Phivolcs said Friday.

Lava flows have been observed and has advanced to 3.4 kilometers in Bonga in the southeast, 2.8 kilometers in Mi-isi in the south, and 1.1 kilometers in Basud in the east.

It also emitted volcanic sulfur dioxide averaging 868 tons a day on September 20.

Under Alert Level 3 (intensified or magmatic unrest), a hazardous eruption is still possible within weeks or days. Phivolcs has recommended that residents living near the area evacuate the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) as the volcano poses possible threats like debris and ash flow and lahar.

2023-09-22T04:06:19Z dg43tfdfdgfd