Kanlaon Volcano shows increased activity

MANILA, Philippines — Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island showed increased activity over the weekend, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Phivolcs said that Kanlaon’s sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission reached 1,099 tons on Sunday, the highest recorded from the volcano so far this year.

State volcanologists said Kanlaon’s average SO2 influx is only 124 tons per day.

“This is higher than the average of 124 tons per day recorded since March. In addition to this, real-time and continuous volcanic gas monitoring of thermal springs on the northern slopes, showed for the first time volcanic SO2 concentrations starting last month,” Phivolcs said.

Data showed there were 141 volcanic earthquakes recorded around Kanlaon between April 1 and 30.

“These earthquakes occurred at shallow depths of 10 kilometers across the northern to western portions of the edifice,” Phivolcs said, adding that short-term inflations of the lower and middle slopes have been observed since March.

The inflations indicate that slow pressurization is occurring within the volcano.

“These parameters indicate increased hydrothermal activity occurring beneath the edifice, possibly driven by degassing of even deeper magma with increased possibilities of phreatic or steam-driven eruptions occurring at the summit crater,” Phivolcs said.

The public as well as local government units have been reminded that Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 1, which means the volcano is under abnormal condition.

Entry into the four-kilometer permanent danger zone around the volcano is prohibited due to increased chances of a sudden and hazardous phreatic eruption.

“Pilots have been advised to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ejecta from any sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to the aircraft,” Phivolcs said. –Gilbert Bayoran