• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island emitted 4,839 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) on Aug. 10, marking the fourth highest since gas monitoring began.
Since its phreatic eruption on June 3, Alert Level 2 remains in effect over Mt. Kanlaon, which logged 20 volcanic quakes in the past 24 hours, Phivolcs said in its advisory on Aug. 11.
The average SO2 emission, before its June 3 eruption, which was recorded at 1,273 tons per day, was observed to have surged to an average of 3,037 tons per day since then.
Phivolcs advised the public to remain vigilant and avoid entering the four-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) to minimize risks from volcanic hazards, including pyroclastic density currents, ballistic projectiles, and rockfalls.
The municipal government of La Castellana in Negros Occidental has yet to allow residents originally residing within the PDZ to return home to ensure their safety.
“The overall monitoring parameters indicate that magmatic processes beneath the volcano may be driving current unrest, causing persistently high concentrations of volcanic gas emission, swelling of the edifice, and occasional volcanic earthquake activity,” Phivolcs said. | GB
