Phivolcs officer in charge Teresito Bacolcol (File photo)
MANILA – The chief of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Friday said it is okay to travel to Tagaytay City in Batangas province and Albay province amid the volcanic unrest in Taal Volcano and Mayon Volcano.
"Safe naman po as long as we protect ourselves by wearing face mask. Siguro naman sanay na tayong mag face mask because of the pandemic so, magsuot po tayo ng face mask para makaiwas po tayo sa vog o iyong tinatawag nating volcanic smog (It is safe as long as we protect ourselves by wearing face mask as protection against the volcanic smog)," said Phivolcs officer in charge Teresito Bacolcol in a public briefing when asked if it is safe to travel to Tagaytay this long weekend.
Taal Volcano, he said, is still under Alert Level 1 (abnormal), but increased degassing has been observed for almost a week now.
"Sulfur dioxide (SO2) disperses in the air. If the wind direction is northward and the SO2 is high, it could reach Tagaytay," Bacolcol told the Philippine News Agency when asked if he was referring to Tagaytay despite the volcano's location in Batangas.
Vog consists of fine droplets containing volcanic gas which is acidic and can cause irritation of the eyes, throat and respiratory tract in severities depending on the gas concentrations and durations of exposure.
Those planning to go to Albay in Bicol Region may do so as long as they will not enter the six-kilometer permanent danger zone, according to Bacolcol.
Phivolcs on Thursday raised Mayon Volcano's status from Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest) to Level 3 (increased tendency towards hazardous eruption) due to continuous increase in its rockfall events.
A total of 109 rockfall events were recorded in Mayon from 5 a.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday. Six pyroclastic density current that lasted from four to five minutes were also observed, he added.
"Crater glow was seen last night. This means super heated gas comes out of the crater," Bacolcol said.
Should there be a need to raise Mayon Vocano's alert level to Level 4, Bacolcol said the permanent danger zone will be extended to eight-km. radius.
Meanwhile, Bacolcol reminded the public not to enter the six-km. permanent danger zone in Mayon, as well as the Taal Volcano Island (TVI).
"Don't enter the TVI because SO2 is poisonous. There is also carbon dioxide that you cannot smell unlike the SO2," he said. (PNA)
"Safe naman po as long as we protect ourselves by wearing face mask. Siguro naman sanay na tayong mag face mask because of the pandemic so, magsuot po tayo ng face mask para makaiwas po tayo sa vog o iyong tinatawag nating volcanic smog (It is safe as long as we protect ourselves by wearing face mask as protection against the volcanic smog)," said Phivolcs officer in charge Teresito Bacolcol in a public briefing when asked if it is safe to travel to Tagaytay this long weekend.
Taal Volcano, he said, is still under Alert Level 1 (abnormal), but increased degassing has been observed for almost a week now.
"Sulfur dioxide (SO2) disperses in the air. If the wind direction is northward and the SO2 is high, it could reach Tagaytay," Bacolcol told the Philippine News Agency when asked if he was referring to Tagaytay despite the volcano's location in Batangas.
Vog consists of fine droplets containing volcanic gas which is acidic and can cause irritation of the eyes, throat and respiratory tract in severities depending on the gas concentrations and durations of exposure.
Those planning to go to Albay in Bicol Region may do so as long as they will not enter the six-kilometer permanent danger zone, according to Bacolcol.
Phivolcs on Thursday raised Mayon Volcano's status from Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest) to Level 3 (increased tendency towards hazardous eruption) due to continuous increase in its rockfall events.
A total of 109 rockfall events were recorded in Mayon from 5 a.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday. Six pyroclastic density current that lasted from four to five minutes were also observed, he added.
"Crater glow was seen last night. This means super heated gas comes out of the crater," Bacolcol said.
Should there be a need to raise Mayon Vocano's alert level to Level 4, Bacolcol said the permanent danger zone will be extended to eight-km. radius.
Meanwhile, Bacolcol reminded the public not to enter the six-km. permanent danger zone in Mayon, as well as the Taal Volcano Island (TVI).
"Don't enter the TVI because SO2 is poisonous. There is also carbon dioxide that you cannot smell unlike the SO2," he said. (PNA)
