THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has raised the alert status of Mt. Kanlaon to Level 1 or abnormal condition, preventing trekkers from entering the four-kilometer danger zone.
This was confirmed by Jay Jamello, science research specialist of Phivolcs based in Negros Occidental, Friday, August 18, saying that Mt. Kanlaon’s seismic monitoring network recorded 244 volcanic earthquakes since June 24, 2017.
Alert Level 1 status also means the active volcano has entered a period of unrest.
The increased seismic activity could be succeeded by steam-driven or phreatic eruptions at the summit crater despite the absence of visible degassing or steaming from the active vent this year, the latest bulletin said.
Ground deformation data from continuous GPS measurements indicate that the Kanlaon edifice remains inflated since December 2015, it added.
The bulletin further said: “These parameters indicate that volcanic processes are underway deep beneath the edifice that may be caused by deep-seated degassing or hydrothermal activity or magmatic intrusion.”
The local government units and the public are strictly reminded that entry into the four-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone is strictly prohibited due to the further possibilities of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions, it said.
Also, civil aviation authorities are instructed to advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ejecta from any sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.