Yahoo TV

STORY: Shrouded in smog.

A small but restive volcano near the Philippine capital Manila spewed above average sulfur dioxide and volcanic smog on Friday (September 22).

It's prompted authorities to close schools in dozens of cities and towns, and urge people to stay indoors.

The aviation authority told pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano's summit.

The state volcanology and seismology institute said it has observed the welling up of hot volcanic fluids in the Taal volcano's crater lake.

This then results in the emission of volcanic gases.

For locals like tricycle driver Kennard Kaagbay, it's affecting their health and their business.

"It's bad for me to inhale the air because I have asthma. Our passengers don't go out as well because of the smog, so we haven't had many passengers recently."

Located in a scenic lake in Batangas province near Manila, Taal, which is 1,020-foot high, is among the most active of 24 volcanoes in the Philippines.

In January 2020, it spewed a column of ash and steam as high as 9.3 miles, forcing more than 100,000 people to evacuate and causing dozens of flight cancellations.

Volcanic smog, or vog, consists of fine droplets containing volcanic gas like sulfur that can irritate the eyes, throat and respiratory tract.