• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported three ash events on Oct. 19, following continuous degassing activity, which generated light-gray plumes that rose 500 meters above the crater.
Gray ash was spewed from the summit crater of the active volcano at 6:41 a.m., 7:01 a.m., and 8:01 a.m. The ashing events lasted two to six minutes.
Traces of ash were reported at Barangays Yubo and Ara-al in La Carlota City and Barangay Sag-ang in La Castellana town, with sulfurous fumes also experienced in Barangay Yubo.
Volcanic sulfur dioxide emission from the summit crater on Oct. 19 averaged 3,244 tons per day.
Phivolcs said that there were no detectable seismic or infrasound signals during these events.
However, volcanic ash in the degassing plume signifies open vent conditions, in which volcanic gas can carry fine debris from the fractured rock, or even from the margins of shallow magma beneath the edifice, Phivolcs said.
Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 2, or increasing unrest, although Phivolcs warns that the current activity may lead to eruptive unrest and a raise in the current alert level.
Entry into the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone remains prohibited. | GB
