Taal Volcano’s gas emission rises, ‘vog’ still observed

POOR VISIBILITY Thick volcanic smog or vog covers Taal Volcano Island and Taal Lake in Batangas province on Monday. Classes were suspended in parts of Calabarzon region on Monday due to health risks from the vog. —RICHARD A. REYES

LUCENA CITY — Taal Volcano in Batangas province emitted more sulfur dioxide (SO2) and still with volcanic smog or “vog,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

In its bulletin, Phivolcs measured a “voluminous emission” of 5,128 metric tons (MT) of SO2 from the volcano’s main crater over the past 24 hours. The plumes rose to 2,100 meters above Taal Volcano Island, the volcano’s crater landmass, locally known as “Pulo,” that sits within Taal Lake, before drifting northwest and north-northwest.

The latest emission significantly rose from the 3,355 MT logged on Aug. 15 to 19.

Taal has emitted an average of 7,777 tonnes/day of SO2 for the year and has been continuously degassing voluminous concentrations since 2021.

State volcanologists again observed an “upwelling of hot volcanic fluids” in the main crater lake. No earthquake was recorded during the latest monitoring period.

Phivolcs also noted the continuous presence of “vog” during the observation period.

Vog is composed of SO2 gas and could irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. People with respiratory conditions and pregnant women are at greater risk.

Phivolcs advised people exposed to vog to use face masks, drink plenty of water to ease the discomfort from exposure, and consult a doctor if needed.

The volcanic smog from Taal Volcano forced officials to suspend classes in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) region on Monday and Tuesday (Aug. 19 and 20).

However, due to waning threats from vog, only the school classes in the towns of Cavinti, Pagsanjan, Magdalena, Pagsanjan in Laguna and Jalajala, Pililla, and Taytay in Rizal remained suspended on Wednesday. School authorities in these municipalities advised teachers to shift to modular and online learning.

On Tuesday, Laguna Gov. Ramil Hernandez and Rizal Gov. Rebecca Ynarez suspended classes at all levels in public and private schools in their respective provinces due to vog.

In Cavite, all local governments in the province and 13 municipalities in Batangas canceled classes on Tuesday.

In Quezon province, local authorities in Tayabas City and the towns of Candelaria, Dolores, Mauban, Lucban, San Antonio, and Alabat, also ordered the suspension of classes on Tuesday.

Alert Level 1 prevails over Taal Volcano, indicating that it is still in abnormal condition.