• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) logged three more ash emissions at Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island on Oct. 20, with 25 volcanic quakes recorded since Oct. 19.
Ruth Asentista, project technical aide VI stationed Kanlaon Observatory in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, said the first ash emission lasted for 10 minutes while the second emission lasted for one hour and 34 minutes, with plume as high as 300 meters.
Another ash emission was recorded at 4:56 p.m. also on Monday
Asentista said they have yet to receive reports of ash fall.
On Oct. 15, Phivolcs also reported two events of ash emission at the crater of Kanlaon Volcano.
The ash emission activities of Kanlaon Volcano may indicate a volcanic event such as minor explosive eruption, Ma. Antonia Bornas, chief of Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, earlier said.
Despite the continuing restiveness of Kanlaon, it remains under Alert Level 2, where the entry into the four-kilometer permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited.
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) reported that round-the-clock monitoring and assistance operations have been implemented following the ash emissions and heightened activity of Mt. Kanlaon.
PRO-NIR has strategically deployed police personnel in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City, Negros Oriental to assist displaced families, maintain peace and order, and enforce border control to ensure the protection of evacuees, especially against gender-based violence.
A total of 80 families, comprising 284 individuals residing within the four-kilometer permanent danger zone, are currently staying in six evacuation centers.
No sulfuric odor has been detected in the barangays surrounding Mt. Kanlaon. | GB
