Service suspensions and airport closure in Philippines due to volcano eruption

Public services were suspended and Manila International Airport remained partially closed on January 13th after the eruption of Taal Volcano, south of Manila.

Tens of thousands of people have already evacuated the surrounding area, with hundreds of thousands more preparing to follow.

The Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) suspended all public services in the areas of Calabarzon (Region IV-A), the National Capital Region, and Central Luzon (Region III) due to ashfall, and strongly encouraged the private sector to suspend its operations too.

The airport closure led to over 240 cancelled flights—affected airlines included Air Asia, Air China, Delta and Malaysia Airlines—though it was partially reopened on Monday.

Taal is one of the smallest volcanos in the world, but one of dozens of active volcanos in the Philippines, which form part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Source: Sky News, Business Traveller

Header image: JC Gellidon