BACOLOD CITY , Philippines — If the present abnormal condition of Kanlaon Volcano in Negros persists, state volcanologists may be obliged to raise the alert Level from 2 to 3, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
Phivolcs resident volcanologist Mari Andylene Quintia said the current eruptive mode of Kanlaon is high, citing the volcano’s level of activity when a phreatic eruption occurred on June 3.
Alert Level 3 means there is an “increased tendency toward a hazardous eruption coming from the increasing unrest under Alert Level 2,” which currently remains in effect over Kanlaon.
Phivolcs yesterday recorded 11 volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours and 2,123 tons of sulfur dioxide emission.
The volcano’s normal sulfur dioxide emission is 300 tons per day.
An increasing ground deformation has been observed in the middle and lower southeastern slopes of Kanlaon’s edifice since June 18.
Phivolcs said the recent change in ground deformation parameters may indicate a magmatic intrusion beneath the edifice, which increases chances of an eruptive activity.