CLEAR VIEW A small cloud of steam rises from Taal Volcano, as seen from Tagaytay City on Monday. Three days later, on Thursday, a minor phreatic eruption from the main crater on Taal Volcano Island was recorded by volcanologists at 7:21 a.m. —ROBERT JAWORSKI L. ABAÑO
LUCENA CITY — Classes were suspended on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 13, in Calaca City, Batangas province, due to the harmful presence of volcanic smog or “vog” from Taal Volcano.
The Calaca public information office announced the suspension around 11:30 a.m. in a post on its Facebook page.
“In accordance with the directive of the DepEd Calaca City Sub-Office and Calaca City DRRMO, the suspension of classes this afternoon is recommended for all public and private schools at all levels in Calaca City due to volcanic smog or “vog” from Taal Volcano,” the post said in Filipino.
Local authorities advised the public to wear a face mask, drink plenty of water, and stay indoors to minimize exposure to the vog.
“Let’s all stay safe,” it added.
However, the 11 municipalities surrounding Taal Lake have yet to confirm the presence and effects of vog in their localities.
READ: Taal vog prompts class suspension in Batangas
Vog consists of fine droplets containing volcanic gas, which is acidic. It irritates the eyes and throat and is a health threat to persons with respiratory illness.
Health authorities warned that people with asthma, lung or heart disease, the elderly, pregnant women, and children were especially vulnerable.
In its Wednesday morning bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that the volcano released a “voluminous emission” of 2,039 metric tons (MT) of sulfur dioxide from its main crater in the past 24 hours.
The plumes rose to 1,800 meters above Taal Volcano Island before drifting northeast.
According to Phivolcs, Taal Volcano is still on alert level 1, or a low level of volcanic unrest.
The agency reminded the public that the volcano remained in an “abnormal condition” and “should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity.”
READ: DepEd: Over 3.5M learners affected by class suspensions due to Taal vog