MANILA, Philippines — As Metro Manila continues to experience ashfall from the Taal Volcano, residents in affected areas are scrambling to purchase masks, with some drug stores running out of stock.
Videos show drug stores packed with customers who are lining up to buy masks as protection from the ashfall.
Marikina residents flock drug stores to buy face masks, as a precautionary measure against the ashfall brought by the Taal Volcano eruption. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/DrAet9Qkfx
— Gabriel P. Lalu (@GabrielLaluINQ) January 12, 2020
A photo shared by Cedric Karlo on Twitter showed an empty face mask shelf of a drug store along Makati Avenue.
He said he tried to buy a face mask but the drug store but to no avail.
Currently at Watsons to buy Face Mask sana. Pero they’re all sold out. Hoarding at its finest. Will try to visit Mercury drug. pic.twitter.com/CC6h7rcCmq
— Cedric Karlo (@imcedric) January 12, 2020
The Department of Health (DOH) has earlier warned the public of possible health risks due to exposure to volcanic ash.
This after Taal Volcano spewed a giant ash column Sunday afternoon.
Taal’s heightened activity has forced airport authorities to ground flights for safety concerns and the cancellation of classes in all levels in Metro Manila and other affected areas.
Ashfall from Taal, the country’s second-most-active-volcano, affected nearby provinces and has reached as far as Quezon City.