THE Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island remained restive as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded 155 new volcanic earthquakes over the past 24 hours on Monday.
On Sunday, December 10, the Kanlaon Volcano Bulletin stated that seismic monitoring network recorded three volcanic earthquakes during the weekend.
The Phivolcs seismic monitoring network on Tuesday reported that the active volcano moderately emitted white steam-laden plumes with higher height of 1,000 meters before drifting southwest.
Slight inflation of the edifice of the volcano since December 2005 was still noted through the ground deformation data from continuous global positioning system measurements, it said.
On Saturday, December 9, Phivolcs recorded a low-energy phreatic eruption. It was an explosion-type earthquake that lasted for about 10 minutes.
The event ejected dark ash and voluminous steam at three to four kilometers above the summit vent. It was accompanied by a rumbling sound heard by residents of La Castellana, Negros Occidental.
Phivolcs also reported that thin ashfall was experienced at Sitio Guintubdan in Barangay Ara-al, La Carlota City; Barangay Sag-ang in La Castellana; and Barangay Ilijan in Bago City, all in Negros Occidental.
Degassing at the summit was also observed and detected through continuous low-energy tremor during periods when the summit was not visible.
As this developed, the Bago City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and City Health Office implemented Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis in Barangay Ilijan on Sunday.
The team conducted ocular inspection, including interviews with the affected community. The city’s Health Emergency Management Staff also distributed masks to residents in the area.
Amid the recent activities, Alert Level 2 status still prevails over Kanlaon Volcano. This means that the volcano is undergoing a moderate level of unrest.
“There is probable intrusion of magma at depth which may lead to a magmatic eruption,” Phivolcs said, adding those local government units, and the public as well, are still reminded that entry in the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited due to the possible sudden and hazardous phreatic eruptions.
The Civil Aviation Authorities of the Philippines 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, it said.
From Alert Level 1, the Alert Level 2 status was first raised over the volcano last November 15, after Phivolcs recorded a total of 279 volcanic earthquakes for the past 24 hours during that time.
After which, authorities have been closely monitoring the activities of Mt. Kanlaonl. (EPN with reports from PNA)