Sightseers still welcome in Albay, but DOH warns of toxic volcano gases

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

AS the crater of the majestic Mayon Volcano, world-famous for its near-perfect cone, glows fiery red at night with streaks of lava flowing, tourists flock across nearby viewing sites to capture its dangerous but dramatic beauty.

A NEARLY kilometer-high plume drifting northeast was recorded at Taal Volcano on Sunday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), as Kanlaon Volcano recorded three volcanic earthquakes yesterday.

As of 5 a.m., Phivolcs said the 900-meter plume emission came after “pronounced upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Main Crater Lake” of Taal Volcano

VIEWS OF MAYON. In this photo from 2019 from the Instagram account 'Proud to be Albayano' (upper right), families play on the grounds of the Mayon Skyline Hotel and Convention Center in Tabaco, Albay. The premier view deck for tourists wanting a glimpse of the near-perfect conical volcano is currently closed, being within the 6-kilometer danger zone. Mayon was red with fresh lava on Sunday night (inset top) in this video grab from CNN Philippines, while firemen ration water to evacuees who fled the volcano's danger zone in Camalig, Albay (inset above). BFP Photos

TYPHOON Chedeng continued to enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat” and brought heavy rains to Metro Manila and parts of Luzon hours before its expected exit from the Philippine area of responsibility late Sunday night.

In Valenzuela City, at least 29 families had to be evacuated because of flash floods over the weekend.

Meanwhile, an Orange Rainfall Warning was raised over both Zambales and Bataan provinces, slowing vehicles to a crawl on the expressway connecting the former American bases in Clark and Subic and its arterial roads.

Streets in Bulacan, particularly in

Meycauayan City, were also inundated, but there were no reports of injuries or evacuations throughout Central Luzon.

The state weather bureau said Chedeng (international name Guchol) has weakened into a severe tropical storm as of Sunday afternoon as it bent northward toward Japan.

Despite this, Chedeng would continue to enhance the habagat and bring occasional monsoon rains over the western portions of Luzon and Visayas.

PAGASA said the Ilocos Region, Zambales, and Bataan could expect monsoon rains (heavy to at times intense

By Peter Atencio

FOR many years, clearing the six-meter mark in pole vault has been the exclusive domain of 23 athletes in Europe, the United States, and Australia.

On Saturday in Norway (Sunday in Manila), a Filipino joined that elite group. Ernest John “EJ” Obiena’s sevenyear quest finally bore fruit as he jumped 6.0 meters to earn the gold medal in the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway and become the 24th pole vaulter to join the exclusive club.

Both Taal and Kanlaon on Negros Island are under Alert Level 1, meaning they have “low-level unrest,” in contrast to Mayon Volcano's current Alert Level 3, or a step below a hazardous eruption warning (see related story on A1— Editors). On Saturday, Taal Volcano generated 6,304 tonnes of sulfur dioxide.

The western Taal Volcano Island was also observed to have "a short-term inflation," while its caldera "has long-term deflation on the ground."

The acidity level at Taal’s main crater lake also remained at 0.48, while its temperature was at 74.1 degrees Celsius, the state volcanologists said.

Entry to Taal Volcano Island, which is under the Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), and flying any aircraft close to the volcano are still restricted.

Phivolcs also warned that hazards such as steam-driven or phreatic or gas-driven explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-list representatives have facilitated the release of P33 million worth of assistance to the province of Albay in cash and in kind as increased activity at Mayon Volcano has forced the evacuation of residents living in the permanent danger zone.

Along with party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre,

FREEDOM DAY AT SM. Store staff wave flags at SM CDO Downtown Premier mall as this June, SM Supermalls aims to keep freedom, future, and history alive with several Independence Day activities that celebrate being a 'Super Pinoy' in all ways possible.

The 27-year-old Obiena, who has been toiling in Formia, Italy ahead of this moment, went on to set new Asian and national records with his feat.