STILL RESTIVE Volcanic smog or 鈥渧og鈥� envelops Taal Volcano in Batangas province in this photo taken at 3:30 p.m. from Tagaytay City in Cavite on Monday. The volcano, which remains under alert level 1, records an 鈥渦pwelling of hot volcanic fluids鈥� in the volcano鈥檚 main crater lake, according to Phivolcs. 鈥擯hoto courtesy of Sheila Tan
LUCENA CITY, QUEZON, Philippines 鈥� The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Monday that volcanic smog, or 鈥渧og,鈥� was again observed in Taal Volcano in Batangas province.
In its latest bulletin issued on Monday morning, Phivolcs said that the volcano released 1,379 metric tons of sulfur dioxide in the past 24 hours.
The plumes rose to 1,500 meters above Taal Volcano Island, the volcano鈥檚 crater landmass, locally known as 鈥淧ulo,鈥� which sits within Taal Lake, before drifting northeast.
State volcanologists observed the renewed presence of vog during this time after it disappeared on Aug. 31.
搁贰础顿:听Taal volcano emits voluminous toxic gas, 鈥榲og鈥� reappears
Vog consists of fine droplets containing acidic volcanic gas such as sulfur dioxide, which can cause irritation of the eyes, throat and respiratory tract.
On Aug. 19 and Aug. 20, the presence of vog from Taal forced local government officials in some towns in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) to suspend classes in their localities.
鈥楬ot volcanic fluids鈥�
Phivolcs again noted an 鈥渦pwelling of hot volcanic fluids鈥� in the main crater lake. No earthquake was recorded during this latest monitoring period.
On Monday, several residents in areas in Batangas surrounding Taal Lake, including those from the towns of Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Balete, Mataas na Kahoy and Cuenca, have posted videos on social media of the vog that enveloped the volcano island and plumes rising from its crater.
Agoncillo Mayor Cindy Valenton Reyes reminded her constituents of the renewed threat from vog.
鈥淏e careful, as there is vog. Wear a face mask. Drink plenty of water,鈥� Reyes said in a post on her Facebook page on Monday.
But Tagaytay City in Cavite, which overlooks the volcano, was not affected by the vog.
Shiela Tan, 71, a Tagaytay resident, said the view of the volcano from their house across the street looked peaceful on Monday morning.
鈥淣o signs and toxic smell of vog. The volcano is all in her scenic beauty,鈥� Tan said in a phone interview.
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 remains in an 鈥渁bnormal condition鈥� and 鈥渟hould not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity.鈥�