The DOST-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said last night volcanic sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas emission from the summit crater of Kanlaon in Negros Island reached 7,172 tonnes Aug. 25.
“This is the second highest emission from the volcano recorded this year and since instrumental gas monitoring began,” the Phivolcs said in a notice of elevated volcanic SO2 gas flux at Kanlaon Volcano at 9:15 p.m.
It added that Mt. Kanlaon has been degassing increased concentrations of volcanic SO2 this year at an average rate of 1,273 tonnes/day prior to the June 3 eruption, but emission since then has been particularly high at a current average of 3,351 tonnes/day.
“The current monitoring parameters warn of shallow magmatic processes beneath the volcano that are actively driving unrest, causing persistent and increasing concentrations of volcanic gas emission, persistent volcanic earthquake activity, and swelling of the edifice,” the advisory stressed.
Phivolcs reminds the public that Alert Level 2, or increasing unrest, prevails over Kanlaon. “This means that there is current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes with increased chances of leading to explosive eruptions, or even hazardous magmatic eruption from the summit crater.”
The public is strongly advised to be vigilant and avoid entry into the four (4) kilometer-radius permanent danger zone (PDZ), Phivolcs said.
“Communities living beside river systems on the southern and western slopes, especially those that have already experienced lahars and muddy streamflows, are advised to take precautionary measures when heavy rainfall over the volcano has been forecast or has begun,” it added. ||
