• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) logged another ash emission from Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island on Nov. 21.
Phivolcs science research assistant Ptolemy Mañego said on Friday that the weak ash emission lasted for eight minutes.
It generated grayish plumes, reaching 75 meters above the crater, before it drifted west-southwest.
Mañego said they have not monitored any ashfall or volcanic quake occurrence.
Phivolcs advised the public to stay out of the volcano’s four-kilometer permanent danger zone due to the risk of sudden explosions, pyroclastic density currents, rockfalls and exposure to harmful volcanic gases.
As to the lahar flow, Mañego said they have not monitored any except during the Typhoon Tino.
Boulders and uprooted trees were carried downstream by cascading muddy water from the upper portion of Mt. Kanlaon, affecting thousands of people in several towns and cities in central Negros.
Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol earlier explained that ash emission is expected for Kanlaon Volcano since it is under Alert Level 2 or moderate level of unrest.
“Ash emissions happen when there is a new release of volcanic gas and pressure,” he said.
Degassing brings fine and dry materials or ash that can be found on the volcano’s crater, Bacolcol added. | GB with PNA reports
