• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Communities surrounding Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island have been alerted by the Philippine Institute on Volcanology and Seismology on the elevated sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas emission from its crater on Aug. 13, that reached 7,307 tonnes.
“This is the highest emission from the volcano recorded since instrumental gas monitoring began,” the report from Phivolcs stated.
It added that Kanlaon has been degassing increased concentrations of volcanic SO2 this year at an average rate of 1,273 tonnes/day prior to the 3 June eruption, but emission since then has been particularly elevated at a current average of 3,102 tonnes/day.
In addition, volcanic earthquake activity has persisted at an average of nine events per day since the eruption.
Phivolcs also noted real-time ground deformation data from continuous GPS and electronic tilt measurements, or swelling of the Kanlaon edifice since March 2022, with increased inflation of its eastern and southeastern flank.
This indicated slow but sustained pressurization within the volcano, it further said.
The current monitoring parameters warn of shallow magmatic processes beneath the volcano that are actively driving unrest, causing persistent and increasing concentrations of volcanic gas emission, swelling of the edifice and persistent volcanic earthquake activity, Phivolcs said.
It strongly advised the public to be vigilant and avoid entry into the four (4) kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) to minimize risks from volcanic hazards such as pyroclastic density currents, ballistic projectiles, rockfall and others.
Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash and ballistic fragments from sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft. | GB
