• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island recorded a moderately explosive eruption on July 9, lasting three minutes and triggering ashfall across several areas in Negros and portions of Cebu.
This is the volcano’s third eruption since Feb. 19 this year.
The latest generated a dark gray ash plume that rose two to three kilometers above the crater before drifting eastward, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.
It also observed poorly visible pyroclastic density currents descending the southeastern slopes, possibly within one kilometer of the summit crater as captured by the Upper Pantao Observation Station in Canlaon City.
Phivolcs maintained the volcano’s Alert Level 2, indicating a state of increasing unrest. Kanlaon Volcano Observatory resident volcanologist Mari-Andylene Quintia said monitoring stations recorded booming sounds that were heard in La Castellana, Negros Occidental and Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.
Ashfall and sulfuric odor were reported in Barangays Bulwangan, Quezon, Codcod, Poblacion 2 and 3 in San Carlos City, Barangay Ma-ao in Bago City, Barangay Biak-Na-Bato in La Castellana, Barangay Igmayaan in Don Salvador Benedicto, and Barangay Binalbagan in Canlaon City.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported 103 displaced families composed of 495 persons in Barangay Biak na Bato in La Castellana.
The ash plume also reached parts of Cebu province, with confirmed ashfall in the municipalities of Balamban, Pinamungahan, and Aloguinsan as well as in the city of Toledo.
Volcanic ash blanketed the Uptown Vegetable Market in Barangay Mabigo, Canlaon City, covering vegetables being sold while rain was also falling in the area.
Authorities reported damage to a house in Sitio Matagbak, Barangay Masulog, Canlaon City, where the roof was punctured by rocks believed to have been ejected during the eruption.
Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said the eruption was stronger than ordinary ash emissions, but has not reached the level of the volcano’s most powerful eruptions.
Bacolcol explained that Alert Level 2 remains appropriate since there are no significant signs yet of escalating volcanic activity such as lava flows, substantial ground deformation, or a sharp increase in volcanic earthquakes. | GPB
