- GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The present activities of Mt. Kanlaon do not yet warrant an increase in its alert level, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Ma. Antonia Bornas, chief of the Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, said on Friday, Jan. 31, the dropping of volcanic emissions, especially sulfur dioxide (SO2), is only one of the key parameters for monitoring an active volcano.
There were claims that the decrease in SO2 emission coming from the volcano may indicate an imminent explosion.
Alert Level 3 remains hoisted over Mt. Kanlaon.
On Jan. 28, Phivolcs logged 1,691 tons of SO2 emission, which increased in the succeeding days.
In the past 24 hours before Jan. 31, Phivolcs recorded three ash eruptions at 17 to 98 minutes long and nine volcanic earthquakes, including three volcanic tremors.
It also logged an emission of 3,385 tons of SO2 on Jan. 30, reaching as high as 100 meters from the summit.
Bornas described the June 3 and Dec. 9, 2024 activities of Mt. Kanlaon as “mildly explosive eruption”.
Still, the Office of Civil Defense is preparing for a worst-case scenario, if Alert Level 4 would be declared, where about 100,000 residents will have to be evacuated.
The establishment of a tent city for La Castellana evacuees is now in progress at Himamaylan City.
Canlaon City is looking at Vallehermoso and other neighboring localities in Negros Oriental to shelter its residents who may be affected by the eruption. | GB
