Taal Volcano smog makes over 40 students sick in Tuy, Batangas

More than 40 students have been brought to various hospitals in Tuy, Batangas due to the effects of the volcanic smog caused by the activity of Taal Volcano.

Dr. Amor Calayan, head of the Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the smog has been affecting towns in the province for two weeks.

The affected students have complained of chest tightness or pain, dizziness, itchy throat, and itchy skin.

She said none of the students needed to be confined at the hospital and were all sent home after treatment.

In its advisory on Taal Volcano issued at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, volcanic smog or vog has been observed over Taal Lake and has lingered until the late afternoon.

Phivolcs said continuous upswelling persisted at the main crater lake, "generating steam plumes that rose to 2,400 meters before drifting to the west-southwest."

It said 4,569 tonnes a day of volcanic sulfur dioxide or SO2 gas emission from the Taal main crater was measured on Thursday.

Phivolcs said satellite monitors had also detected a large cloud of SO2 over and stretching west of Taal Lake.

Vog has been affecting the Taal area since the first week of September as an average of 3,402 tonnes a day of SO2 has been degassed from Taal Volcano for the month. 

According to a report on "Saksi," the continued degassing from Taal Volcano has affected some portions of Batangas and Cavite.

Classes on Friday have been suspended in all levels of public and private schools in Calatagan, Lian, Balayan, Tuy, and Nasugbu in Batangas.

The same holds for Alfonso, Magallanes, General Emilio Aguinaldo, Silang, Kawit, Mendez, Noveleta, and General Trias in Cavite.

Classes will be done online or through hybrid learning in the townhs of Calaca, Agoncillo, and Laurel in Batangas. 

Phivolcs said vog consisted of fine droplets containing volcanic gas such as SO2 which is acidic and can cause irritation of the eyes, throat and respiratory tract with severities depending on the gas concentrations and durations of exposure.

It reminded communities that can be affected by vog to take the following measures: 

• Limit your exposure. Avoid outdoor activities, stay indoors and shut doors and windows to block out vog.
• Protect yourself. Cover your nose, ideally with an N95 facemask. Drink plenty of water to reduce any throat irritation or constriction. If belonging to the particularly sensitive group of people above, watch over yourself and seek help from a doctor or the barangay health unit if needed, especially If serious effects are experienced.

Phivolcs said acid rain could be generated "during periods of rainfall and volcanic gas emission over areas where the plume disperses, causing damage to crops and affecting metal roofs of houses and buildings."

Taal Volcano is still under Alert Level 1 "which means that it is still in abnormal condition and should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity."

"At Alert Level 1, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within TVI," Phivolcs said.

The agency has urged that Taal’s Permanent Danger Zone, especially the vicinities of the Main Crater and the Daang Kastila fissure," must remain strictly prohibited."

"Local government units are advised to continuously assess previously evacuated barangays around Taal Lake for damages and road accessibilities and to strengthen preparedness, contingency and communication measures in case of renewed unrest," Phivolcs said.

"People are also advised to observe precautions due to ground displacement across fissures, possible ashfall and minor earthquakes," it added.

"Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and wind-remobilized ash may pose hazards to aircraft," Phivolcs said. —Sherylin Untalan/NB, GMA Integrated News