Taal Volcano smog prompts Code White in Calabarzon hospitals

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday placed all hospitals in Region IV-A (Calabarzon) under code white alert status in light of the volcanic smog (vog) brought about by the continued unrest of the Taal Volcano.

According to the report on "24 Oras" by Paul Hernandez of GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog,  the code white alert refers to the readiness of the hospitals and health facilities to respond to emergency situations.

Under the code white status, medical personnel are placed on an “on call status for immediate mobilization” to ensure the readiness of hospitals to respond to  emergencies.

Vog blanketed parts of the region including Cavite, and Batangas, which caused health issues to some residents such as eye irritation, chest tightness or pain, and itchy throat. It likewise prompted the suspension of classes in schools.

At least 22 towns and four cities in Batangas were affected by the sulfur dioxide emission (SO2), according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

However, PDRRMO Batangas Chief Dr. Amor Calayan said there is still no need for an evacuation as the volcano remains under Alert Level 1 (low level of volcanic unrest).

"This is not a manifestation na puputok or pumutok na ang bulkan.... this is just a normal phenomena sa isang abnormal na volcano like Taal Volcano,” Calayan said.

(This is not an indication that the volcano erupted or it will erupt. This is just a normal phenomenon sa isang abnormal na volcano like Taal Volcano.)

Data from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) showed the SO2 emission from Taal stands at 4,500 tons as of September 22, lower than the 20,000 tons it emitted on 2020.

“Sa Taal Volcano naman, because of thermal inversion, ang hindi naman makaangat ‘yung plume coming from Taal Volcano,” Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said.

(The plumes from the Taal Volcano cannot go up due to thermal inversion._

In its bulletin, Phivolcs said five volcanic tremors lasting up 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 the 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.

Some classes and flights were also suspended due to the smog. —NB, GMA Integrated News