THE Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) said yesterday that volcanic activities in Mount Kanlaon are considered “normal.”
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that Kanlaon Volcano's seismic monitoring network recorded four volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours.
Moderate emission of white steam-laden plumes that rose 500 meters from the summit, the agency said.
Ground deformation data from continuous GPS measurements indicate a more pronounced inflation of the edifice since December 2015, signifying pressurization deep beneath the edifice, Phivolcs said.
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission was measured at an average of 261 tons a day on March 30, it added.
Alert Level 2 status prevails over Kanlaon Volcano, which means that the volcano is undergoing a moderate level of unrest due to the probable intrusion of magma at a depth that may or may not lead to a magmatic eruption.
The Local government units (LGUs) and the public are strictly reminded that entry into the four-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is strictly prohibited due to the further possibilities of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.
Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ejecta from any sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.
PDMPD head Zephard Gerhart Caelian said the steaming and other activities of Kanlaon are still normal, adding it is still behind the parameters that its alert level could be declared at a higher level.
Phivolcs earlier noted that the seismic activities of Mount Kanlaon are quite similar to Mount Mayon prior to its eruption.