• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island continues to experience sustained volcanic unrest, with multiple ash emission events recorded in the first 12 days of April.
The Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region said that, per the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, 22 ash emission events were logged for the period.
The April 12 ash emission lasted for 54 minutes, with grayish plumes rising to 900 meters above the Kanlaon crater, indicative of shallow magmatic-phreatic activity.
Alert Level 2 prevails over the volcano, and entry into the four-kilometer danger zone is strictly prohibited.
The OCD-NIR also advised the public to take precautions with ashfall likely in southwest and southeast directions.
Seven volcanic earthquakes, including a volcanic tremor, which also lasted for 51minutes, were likewise recorded by Phivolcs.
Ma. Antonia Bornas, chief of the Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, earlier said these ash emissions are a “good sign” that the volcano’s vents are not clogged.
Moderately explosive eruptions also took place at Mount Kanlaon on Feb. 19 and 26, and on March 15, which produced a 5,000-meter plume. | GB
