Kanlaon Still Restive; 155 Volcanic Quakes Recorded

Kanlaon Volcano in Negros has remained restive as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded 155 new volcanic earthquakes over the past 24 hours.

The agency’s seismic monitoring network on Monday reported that the active volcano moderately emitted white steam-laden plumes with 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, the monitoring network report said.

On Saturday, 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 SitioGuintubdan 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. (PNA)