As Mt. Kanlaon in northern Negros Island continues to emit volcanic ash over the past days, people with comorbidities are advised to wear masks, especially those in areas that are largely affected by these tiny particles.

Dr. Cesar Antonio Ligo, a pulmonologist in Negros Oriental capital, Dumaguete City, said yesterday that wearing protective gear like face masks depends on the distance the ash can travel by air.

“The most vulnerable are the ones much affected. The young, the elderly and those with comorbidities especially with lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obsessive pulmonary disorder,” he said.

The doctor’s explanation comes as many people and netizens expressed concern over the effect of the volcano’s unrest.

So far, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) describes the recent ash events as “minor” despite the alert warnings via SMS or short messaging system sent out by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

“The event was a minor one and just [an] advice for communities to expect and guard against ash,” said Mariton Bornas, chief of the Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, in a text message.

“If communities experience ash, then they should wear masks,” she added.

Negros residents received emergency alerts on their cellphones for two days in a row from the NDRRMC warning them of possible ash fall.

On Sunday, November 3, Phivolcs posted on Facebook footage of “gray ash being entrained or brought out by continuous degassing from the Kanlaon Volcano summit crater,” with gray plumes rising 300 meters above the crater and drifting southwest.

The NDRRMC sent another emergency alert text message yesterday of more ash being ejected by the volcano. (PNA)