• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported six ash emission events at the Kanlaon Volcano summit yesterday.
Mari-Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist at the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory, however, said they have not monitored ash fall from the surrounding communities of Mt. Kanlaon.
Quintia said they only observed grayish plumes rising up to 300-meter above the crater.
Alert Level 3 remains over Kanlaon Volcano, which is indicative of possible short-lived explosions in the short term which may cause pyroclastic density currents within the six-kilometer extended danger zone.
On March 5, sulfur dioxide flux of 2,574 tons and three volcanic quakes were recorded by Phivolcs, with continuous degassing and occasional ash emissions drifting northwest.
Quintia explained that ash emissions took place because of the blockage, which led to pressure build-up within the volcanic conduit or channel.
A total of 3,871 families, composed of more than 8,000 individuals, have been displaced by the Mt. Kanlaon eruption on Dec. 9 last year.
They are now staying inside and outside of evacuation centers in the cities of Bago and La Carlota, and La Castellana in Negros Occidental, according to reports of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office. | GB
