• CHERYL G. CRUZ
A notice of increased seismic activity at Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island was issued at 5:15 p.m. May 26 by the DOST-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
This was after 24 volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes were recorded by the Kanlaon Volcano Network between 1:35 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, the DOST-Phivolcs said. “These earthquakes ranged in energy from ML (local magnitude scale) 0.8 to ML 2.3, and occurred at depths of zero to six kilometers beneath the western flank of the Kanlaon volcanic edifice.”
It added that volcanic sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas emission from the summit crater has been elevated since Jan. 1 this year, averaging 1,291 tonnes a day. SO2 measurement on May 26 averaged 2,003 tonnes.
“Ongoing VT earthquake activity indicates shallow rock-fracturing on the edifice, which may lead to further unrest,” the Phivolcs said as it reminded the public that Alert Level 1 prevails over Kanlaon.
The public and local government units are strongly advised to be vigilant and refrain from entering the four-kilometer permanent danger zone due to increased chances of sudden and hazardous phreatic eruptions occurring without warning.
Pilots are also urged to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit, as ejecta from any sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft, the DOST-Phivolcs added. | CGC
