Pilots told to avoid flying over Taal Volcano

Aircraft operators are advised to not fly over the Taal Volcano amid risks due to volcanic activity.

In a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued at 9:40 a.m. on September 22, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said, “Flight operations are advise to avoid flying close to the volcano's summit as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions may pose hazards to aircrafts.”

The NOTAM applies to flying near the surface of Taal Volcano all the way up to an altitude of 10,000 feet.

The flight advisory is valid from 9:21 a.m. of September 22 until 9 a.m. of September 23.

Volcanic fog (vog) due to Taal Volcano’s activity caused class suspensions in many areas in Luzon, including Metro Manila, on Friday.

In its bulletin on Friday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said five tremors lasting from 20 minutes to 575 minutes were recorded in the volcano from 5 a.m. on Thursday to 5 a.m. on Friday.

The sulfur dioxide emission increased from 4,322 tonnes on Tuesday to 4,569 tonnes on Thursday.

Aside from vog, PHIVOLCS also noted a pronounced upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Main Crater Lake.

A voluminous emission of plumes up to 2,400 meters tall were seen from the Taal Volcano drifting to the west-southwest and southwest directions.

PHIVOLCS said possible hazards that can occur due to the volcano’s activity are steam-driven or phreatic or gas-driven explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas.

Because of this, entry into Taal Volcano Island (Permanent Danger Zone or PDZ), especially the Main Crater and Daang Kastila fissures, is prohibited, PHIVOLCS added.

Occupancy and boating on Taal Lake as well as flying any aircraft close to the volcano are also not allowed, it also said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News