• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has not received reports of ash fall in areas near the volcano after two moderate ash events took place on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
Phivolcs science research analyst Daryl Arro said the first ash emission at 6:54 a.m. lasted for 46 minutes, and the second event occurred at 7:50 a.m., which was 23 minutes long.
At the same time, 17 volcanic quakes were recorded with sulfur dioxide flux as high as 150 meters, which drifted southwest, according to the Phivolcs bulletin.
State volcanologists reminded residents and visitors to avoid the four-kilometer permanent danger zone as they urged local government units to maintain preparedness for possible evacuations.
Civil aviation authorities have also been advised to avoid flying near the volcano’s summit because of potential ash emissions that could affect aircraft safety.
The ash emissions took place as earthquakes also jolted some areas of Iloilo and Negros Occidental on Wednesday.
Intensity 2 was felt in Bago City while in La Carlota City, Intensity 1.
Students of Negros Occidental High School in Bacolod City went out of their classrooms after experiencing tremors.
In response to the ash emission events, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) deployed police personnel in La Castellana in Negros Occidental and Canlaon City, Negros Oriental to assist the families that maybe displaced and maintain peace and order and border control operations.
A total of 112 personnel were deployed by the PRO-NIR in six affected barangays of La Castellana and Canlaon City. | GB
