The haze over Cebu is not volcanic smog, also known as Vog, caused by Kanlaon Volcano’s sulfur and ash emissions, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said Thursday, Nov. 14.
Cebu social media posts initially raised warnings that the haze could be Vog, a type of air pollution that occurs when gases and particles from a volcano react with sunlight, oxygen, moisture, and dust in the atmosphere.
Vog can irritate the skin, eyes, nose and throat.
Mari-Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist of the Kanlaon Observatory based in La Carlota City, said the haze in Cebu was not volcanic smog.
They received reports that the haze was also being experienced in other parts of the country, she said.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration also said the haze in Cebu was not from Kanlaon, it was being caused by another meteorological phenomenon called temperature inversion.
A claim that Vog had also hit San Carlos City in Negros Occidental needs to be verified, Quintia also said.*