Over 850 people sought medical consultation due to Taal vog — OCD

Over 850 people sought medical consultation after experiencing difficulty breathing due to the volcanic smog or vog caused by Taal Volcano’s activity, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Thursday.

“Meron po tayong mahigit 850 na indibidwal na nagpakonsulta ng medikal dahil nakaramdam ng mga sakit ng respiratory so hirap huminga dahil dito sa volcanic fumes,” OCD spokesperson Diego Mariano said at a public briefing.

(We monitored 850 individuals that sought medical consultation because they suffered from respiratory issues like difficulty of breathing due to the volcano fumes.)

Most of them came from the 19 areas affected by the vog including Agoncillo, Balayan, Balete, Batangas City, Calaca, Calatagan, Lemery, Lian, Lipa City, Malvar, Mataas Na Kahoy, Nasugbu, San Jose, San Pascual, Santa Teresita, Tanauan, Taysan, and Tuy.

Those who were confined have already been discharged from the hospital, while most of the victims were only outpatients, according to Mariano.\

Concerned government agencies continue to provide assistance to the affected people including medicine, medical assistance, food packs, cash assistance, and N95 masks.

Zero visibility conditions were earlier reported in Tuy, Balayan, Lian, and Nasugbu in Batangas due to the vog.

The Department of Health (DOH) has advised the public not to go outside as much as possible to avoid possible effects of prolonged sulfur dioxide exposure.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol earlier said the duration of the volcanic smog due to Taal Volcano’s activity cannot be predicted.

“As long as Taal Volcano is spewing out sulfur dioxide, this will be a recurring threat,” he said.

Bacolcol said in the case of Miyake-jima in Japan, it took around five years for its sulfur dioxide emission to slow down.

Vog is a mixture of water vapor and particulates with sulfur dioxide. He said steam plumes emit from the volcano when hot volcanic materials touch water, according to Bacolcol.

He said there is no problem if the steam plumes rise and dissolve.

“But there are times that the sulfur dioxide and water vapor will stay on the lower level kapag meron pong tinatawag nating thermal inversion — so this is when the temperature near the ground is low at hindi po makaangat iyong steam plumes natin,” the PHIVOLCS official said.

(But there are times that the sulfur dioxide and water vapor will stay on the lower level when there is a thermal inversion — this is when the temperature near the ground is low and the steam plumes cannot rise.)

“There are times, depende po sa prevailing wind conditions, pinapadpad po ito sa ibang lugar at ito po ay naaamoy ng mga tao,” he added.

(There are times, depending on prevailing wind conditions, the smog drifts to different areas and people in those areas can smell it.)

Bacolcol noted that volcanic smog is not an indication to raise the alert level status of Taal Volcano, which is presently under Alert Level 1, signifying "low level unrest." 

He had advised the public to avoid outdoor activities, close their doors and windows, and wear a face mask or N95 mask when going outside. He advised drinking a lot of water to flush sulfur dioxide. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News