MANILA, Philippines — Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island might erupt again in a manner similar to the Dec. 9 event when it spewed a voluminous plume that rapidly rose to 4,000 meters, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned.
Teresito Bacolcol, Phivolcs director, said in a radio interview yesterday that Kanlaon is recently showing behavior similar to those recorded prior to the Dec. 9 eruption.
“Yesterday, (sulfur dioxide emission) was recorded to be at 3,511 tons per day. If you compare this to the previous days, it reached as high as 7,000 (tons/day). This was what we also observed prior to the Dec. 9 eruption. There was a drop in the sulfur dioxide (emission),” Bacolcol said.
He noted that prior to the Dec. 9 eruption, the sulfur dioxide emission went down to as low as 1,699 tons per day, which was coupled with an increase in the inflation of the volcano.
Bacolcol said the same behavior was noticed recently.
“It means that most likely the conduit was blocked – same thing prior to Dec. 9. It is the same thing that we are seeing now. That’s why we released an advisory that this may lead to an explosion similar to what transpired last Dec. 9,” Bacolcol added.
The Upper Pantao Observation Station at Kanlaon also reported that on Jan. 9, Kanlaon released only 2,029 tons of sulfur dioxide – a sharp decrease from the previous average of over 5,000 tons per day.
Phivolcs yesterday recorded at least 14 volcanic earthquakes and ash emissions that rose as high as 500 meters.
OCD to LGUs: Reconsider decision
Meanwhile, Office of Civil Defense administrator Ariel Nepomuceno urged the local government officials of Bago City and La Castellana town in Negros Occidental to reconsider their decision allowing over 4,000 evacuees to return to their homes.
He noted the “urgency of the situation” as he cited the Phivolcs data.
“The OCD is prioritizing public safety over the challenges faced by evacuees (at the evacuation centers),” Nepomuceno said as he stressed the importance of safety and the need to prepare for a worst-case scenario.
Nepomuceno said that no emergency responders would attempt to enter the danger zones of Kanlaon volcano to execute rescue operations should an eruption occur.
“I appeal to all residents, even those outside the six-kilometer extended danger zone, to take this situation seriously and evacuate immediately. We want no casualties in the event of an eruption,” the OCD chief said.
“Lives are far more important than properties and livelihood,” he stressed.
Since last week, over 4,000 evacuees in La Castellana town and the cities of Bago and La Carlota in Negros Occidental as well as in Canlaon City in Negros Oriental have decamped to go home.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the return of evacuees whose residences are outside the six-kilometer danger zone is allowed under the guidelines set for Alert Level 3.
Since Friday, Phivolcs has noted a significant increase in ground swelling and pressurization at Kanlaon. Monitoring also showed a pronounced inflation in the eastern edifice of the volcano. – Gilbert Bayoran