Kanlaon Volcano emits ash, logs 38 quakes in 24 hours
STILL RESTIVE Mt. Kanlaon on Negros Island, shown here from the town of La Castellana in Negros Occidental, spews ash for two hours on Monday starting at 11:52 a.m. but only caused minor ashfall in nearby areas. The volcano erupted on April 8. — MARVIN ESCANDER/CONTRIBUTOR
MANILA, Philippines — An ash emission event and 38 volcanic earthquakes were recorded at Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island in the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
According to Phivolcs’ latest 24-hour monitoring report released on Tuesday, the ash emission lasted 29 minutes and the volcano released 1,609 tons of sulfur dioxide.
The volcano generated a voluminous ash plume rising 1,200 meters high, which drifted west-southwest and west.
Phivolcs reported that the 38 recorded volcanic earthquakes included one volcanic tremor, which also lasted for 29 minutes.
The agency also monitored that the volcano edifice remains inflated.
Kanlaon’s alert status is still at Alert Level 3, indicating a high level of volcanic unrest, Phivolcs said.
With this, the public is warned of potential volcanic hazards, including:
- Sudden explosive eruptions
- Lava flows or effusions
- Ashfall
- Pyroclastic density currents
- Rockfalls
- Lahars during heavy rainfall
Over the weekend, Task Force Kanlaon lifted the ban on daytime entry, between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m., into the volcano’s six-kilometer extended danger zone, effective May 31.
READ: Daytime entry to Kanlaon’s danger zone resumes
The move reportedly aims to give affected residents a 10-hour daily window to return to their homes and resume farming and other essential livelihood activities.
Phivolcs, however, still recommends the evacuation of residents within the six-kilometer radius from Kanlaon’s summit. Flying of any aircraft close to the volcano is also prohibited./mcm
