Story By: Lee Bullen,Sub Editor: Joseph Golder,Agency: Asia Wire Report 

Video Credit: AsiaWire/Taal Volcano Volunteer

This is the viral moment a man appears at the smouldering crater of an active volcano wearing just flip-flops despite the fact there were still tremors and locals had called for people to be evacuated.

The incident was filmed at Taal Volcano, a large caldera filled by Taal Lake in the province of Batangas on Luzon Island in northern Philippines, and the footage was shared on YouTube where it is going viral with over 870,000 views.

In the footage, the unnamed man is seen giving a tour of the smouldering crater while sharing his observations.

The footage prompted the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to issue to residents a warning about visiting the volcano.

Head of volcano monitoring Mariton Bornas told local media: “He was wearing slippers [flip-flops] when the ground is very hot!”

Bornas also said the increasing presence of sulphur dioxide suggests that magma is approaching the surface and that the man was exposing himself to the toxic fumes while also risking his life in the event of a possible eruption.

Local media said the volcano remains on Alert Level 4 although Phivolcs confirmed that it is emitting more sulphur and ash cloud have been registered as high as 500 metres (1,640 feet).

Additionally, seven tremors were recorded which brought the total number to 738 since the volcano first erupted on 12th January, according to reports.

Phivolcs said that residents in a 14-kilometre radius should be evacuated while those living in Pansipit River Valley should also be transferred as magma has reportedly appeared in ground cracks in the area.

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