• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported an increasing seismic activity at Kanlaon Volcano as it recorded 135 volcanic earthquakes from 12 midnight of May 11 to 12 p.m. of May 12, including relatively strong volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes.
VTs are generated by rock fracturing process, and the increase in VT activity strongly indicates progressive rock fracturing beneath the volcano as rising magma or magmatic gas drives a path towards the surface.
Volcanic sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas emissions from the Kanlaon Volcano summit crater on May 11 averaged 554 tons per day, it added. It noted also a decline in the average SO2 emission from 4,144 since June 3, 2024 to 2,114 since April 1 this year.
These parameters indicate that the blockade of volcanic gas emission may result in the pressurization and swelling of the edifice, which is potentially leading to moderately explosive eruption at Kanlaon, Phivolcs said.
From June last year up to April this year, Kanlaon Volcano had already erupted thrice.
Despite recent developments, Phivolcs said Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest) still prevails over the volcano. | GB
