PHILIPPINES. Travel is being severely disrupted in the Philippines after Taal Volcano in the picturesque tourist area of Tagaytay erupted on Sunday, writes The Moodie Davitt Report Fashion, Beauty & Social Media Editor Hannah Tan-Gillies who is in Manila.
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Monday 17.00
Despite the partial reopening of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the travel disruption continues as more flight cancellations and delays plague all four terminals in Metro Manila.
Thai Airways, Philippine Airlines, and Cebu Pacific are the latest to give out public advisories about affected flights.
Meanwhile in Southern Luzon, ash fall continues to ravage nearby towns and municipalities as more and more people are evacuated to the North.
Monday 14.00
It is absolute chaos here in Manila, writes Hannah Tan-Gillies. Our flight out has been on hold with Cathay Pacific the whole day. It’s a very scary situation as all flights are in limbo. The airport is still closed – and Cathay has been rescheduling our flights every couple of hours
Like many people, we are stranded and not sure what to do. I have friends in other countries and provinces who are also stranded. Ash fall has crippled Metro Manila and people are afraid to leave their homes. The volcano is currently on Level 4 and there was a magma (molten rock) fountain this morning. They say a larger explosion is now imminent.
We’ve been monitoring flights and so far only six have taken off today, with 37 delays today and 165 cancellations.
SUNDAY
Taal Volcano has not erupted since 1977 and local governments are evacuating nearby towns already, writes Hannah Tan-Gillies. Taal has been spewing ash, steam and stones into the air, prompting the evacuation of thousands of people and forcing the closure of Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.
By early afternoon Sunday all Metro Manila Airports were closed, causing 78 cancellations and 156 delayed flights with much further disruption expected.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised Taal’s danger to Level 4 (“hazardous eruption imminent”). Level 5 means a hazardous eruption is underway and could affect a much larger area.
Clark International Airport in the Mabalacat-Angeles area of Pampanga is still open, although many flights have been delayed.
