• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded eight ash “eruptions” and 30 volcanic earthquakes at Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island over the past 24 hours as of Monday, Jan. 27.
In its bulletin, Phivolcs said the ash emissions observed from Sunday to early Monday morning lasted between six and 46 minutes each.
The volcanic earthquakes also included seven volcanic tremors that lasted from six to 28 minutes.
It also produced a voluminous plume 750 meters high, drifting southwest and west.
Phivolcs resident volcanologist Mari Andylene Quintia said the multiple ash emissions during the weekend indicated an increase in magmatic volume, which is being blocked at its passageway.
“Because of this, there is a buildup of pressure and it led to the fracturing of the plug, which causes the release of ash,” she added.
Quintia said the Phivolcs noted an increase of ash emissions this month compared to October, November and December last year.
Ashfall were also reported in four barangays of La Castellana town and in one village in La Carlota City recently.
Phivolcs also reported two more ash eruptions at 3:51 a.m. and 1:01 p.m. on Monday, which generated a plume that rose 500 meters above the summit crater.
In an interview with DYHB, Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said the activities of Mt. Kanlaon have remained to be unpredictable, stressing that its present alert level status still indicates a possible eruption.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday the ash emission events at Mt. Kanlaon are now being called by Phivolcs as “eruptions”, be it a minor or a major one.
As Phivolcs earlier said that before Mt. Kanlaon will simmer down, it will have a culminating activity, although it did not say whether it is a lava or fireworks, Lacson said.
Alert Level 3 remains hoisted over the volcano. | GB
