Panayam kay Phivolcs Dr. Teresito Bacolcol
Panayam kay Phivolcs Dr. Teresito Bacolcol
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00:00 The reason for the high sulfur gas emission from the Taal Volcano,
00:04 let's find out with PVOX Director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol.
00:09 Dr. Bacolcol, good afternoon.
00:11 Good afternoon to you too, ma'am.
00:14 Sir, according to the report,
00:17 PVOX reported that there was a high sulfur gas emission from the Taal Volcano yesterday.
00:24 What is the detail about this?
00:27 You're right. Yesterday, we recorded 14,211 tons per day of sulfur dioxide.
00:34 This is the second highest that we recorded so far this year.
00:39 Last January 25, 2024, we also recorded the highest, which is 15,145 tons per day of sulfur dioxide.
00:48 Yesterday, we had fellow countrymen who live in Barangay Bilipinuang
00:53 and Barangay Baniaga in Agoncillo in Batangas, who smelled sulfur.
00:58 On an average, Dr. Bacolcol,
01:02 how many tons of sulfur gas emission have you recorded from the Taal Volcano since the year 2024?
01:12 Since the year 2024, Taal has an average emission of sulfur dioxide.
01:22 This is around 10,000 tons per day on average.
01:28 Sir, is the volcanic earthquake in Taal also accompanied by the release of sulfur gas?
01:35 How many volcanic earthquakes have you recorded in the past two days?
01:39 We have not recorded any volcanic earthquakes in the past two days.
01:47 In fact, we have recorded only one earthquake for the past 48 hours.
01:51 For the past nine days, we have recorded only one volcanic earthquake.
01:57 What are the indications of the activities that you have recorded?
02:01 Is there a possible volcanic eruption in Taal because of the activities that you are showing, sir?
02:08 This is just an indication that the degassing activity is still ongoing,
02:14 or the release of gases from the magma chamber of the Taal Volcano.
02:18 This is not an indication that there will be a volcanic eruption.
02:23 Aside from volcanic gas emission, we are looking at other parameters before we can say that this will erupt again.
02:32 Just like the increase in the number of earthquakes, which we have not yet seen.
02:37 Dr. Teresito, is it possible for a volcanic smog or vogue to reoccur around the volcano,
02:45 especially to the residents who live near Taal, and is it still in alert level 1?
02:51 Yes, for the first question, yes.
02:55 For as long as Taal Volcano is spewing out sulfur dioxide, there's always this possibility that there will be a vogue.
03:02 However, there are many factors before a vogue.
03:05 One of them is the strength of the air and the temperature.
03:09 For now, the air in the Taal area is strong, that's why we don't think that a vogue will erupt.
03:13 Sulfur dioxide can easily dissipate, especially when it rains or the air is strong.
03:19 Now on the second question, is the alert level 1 still maintained?
03:23 Yes, the alert level 1 is still maintained.
03:25 Again, as I mentioned earlier, we have other parameters that we are looking at before we raise it to alert level 2.
03:32 One is the increase in seismicity, which we are not yet able to see.
03:36 Another is if the volcano is inflated or the volcanic ballast is erupting.
03:42 Among others, for now, we are only seeing long-term deflation.
03:47 Sir, in that case, there's still sulfuric gas that Taal emits.
03:54 Do you advise people near the area to still wear face masks?
03:59 Yes, this is our advice to people, especially to residents who live near the Taal Volcano, to wear face masks.
04:10 N95 if possible, especially if they have a smelly smell coming from the sulfur.
04:15 Okay. In other talks, Dr. Bacolcol, are there other volcanoes in the country that are being monitored now?
04:24 How is the situation now and are there other volcanoes that we are looking at?
04:28 Yes. Right now, we are still monitoring the Mayon Volcano and it's still on alert level 2 since December 8, 2023.
04:38 The Canlaon Volcano is on alert level 1. We are monitoring it since March 2021.
04:44 At 2020, it's on alert level 1.
04:46 The Bulusan Volcano is on alert level 1 since October last year.
04:52 Dr. Teresito, a message and a reminder to our fellowmen near the Taal Volcano.
04:59 Like what I mentioned earlier, we are advising residents who live near the Taal Volcano to wear face masks, N95 if possible,
05:11 if they have a smelly smell coming from the sulfur.
05:16 If they have a lot of sulfur, drink a lot of water to dilute the sulfur.
05:23 If they are really sick, especially if they have health conditions like asthmatic or have problems with their lungs and other respiratory problems,
05:33 then they need to see a medical doctor.
05:35 Okay sir. Thank you very much for your time.
05:38 VIVOX Director, Dr. Teresita Bacolcol.
05:42 Thank you very much.