Taal Volcano vog now 'very light' —Batangas PDRRMO

The situation in the province of Batangas has improved as fewer amounts of volcanic fog or vog caused by Taal Volcano’s activity have been observed, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMO) said Sunday.

“Simula kahapon, malaki na ang improvement. Walang nakitang smog. Kung mayroon man, very little lang dahil very light lang, magaan lang ang binubuga na gas, ‘yung gas emission natin at saka height ng plume,” Batangas PDRRMO head Amor Calayan said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(Since yesterday, there has been a big improvement. No smog was seen. If there is any, it is very little because the gas emission was very light, as well as the height of the plume.)

The last time Taal Volcano emitted sulfur dioxide was on Friday, September 22, averaging 2,730 tonnes, based on the update today of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

Upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the main crater lake was also observed.

The volcano also generated a moderate 900-meter tall plume which drifted northeast and north-northeast.

Alert Level 1 remains hoisted over Taal Volcano due to low-level unrest.

Zero visibility conditions were earlier reported in Tuy, Balayan, Lian, and Nasugbu in Batangas due to the vog caused by Taal Volcano’s activity.

Calayan said the Batangas PDRRMO is currently validating how many residents were hospitalized due to the effects of the vog, but said no people were confined so far.

“Everyone is managed well at nabigyan ng [and were given] immediate intervention,” she added. —KG, GMA Integrated News