Haze from Kanlaon limited to nearby areas

This photo shows close-up footage of ash emission from the summit crater of Kanlaon Volcano from the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory – Canlaon City Telescopic Camera (Screengrab from Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology / Facebook)

BACOLOD CITY — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has dismissed reports that haze observed in some parts of the country came from Mt. Kanlaon on Negros Island.

Mari-Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist of Kanlaon Observatory based in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, said that although Mt. Kanlaon continued to degas and spewed ash, it only affected nearby towns and cities.

Volcanic smog or vog, she said, is usually confined to areas close to the volcano.

READ: P68 million in crops, fisheries ruined by Kanlaon blast

Quintia, in a statement on Friday, said there were reports of haze, not just in Cebu province, but all over the country since Nov. 14.

“We cannot say that the haze in Cebu was caused by vog because almost the entire Philippines was covered [with] haze. Actually, until today, the atmosphere is hazy,” she said.

READ: Light haze blankets Cebu City, Pagasa confirms

Phivolcs observatories near Mayon (Albay), Bulusan (Sorsogon), and Taal (Batangas) volcanoes also reported haze in their areas. —CARLA P. GOMEZ