• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology lowered July 29 the unrest status of Mount Kanlaon in Negros, from Alert Level 3 to AL2, or from magmatic unrest to moderate level of volcanic unrest.
But Phivolcs strongly recommended that, at AL2, “communities within the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone (PDZ) should remain evacuated due to the lingering chances of short-lived explosive eruptions and sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions that can generate life-threatening volcanic hazards, such as PDCs, ballistic projectiles, rockfalls and lethal expulsions of volcanic gas”.
The lowering to Alert Level 2 reflects the overall decreasing trend in the level of monitoring parameters, including volcanic earthquakes, ash emissions, decreased degassing that could indicate a pause in the intrusion of, or depletion of volcanic gas in, magma within the shallower levels of the edifice, as well as deflation of the volcano edifice, among others.
But the alert level lowering should not be interpreted that the Kanlaon unrest has ceased or that the threat of an eruption has disappeared, given that magma has already been intruded deep beneath the edifice, the Phivolcs said in its notice issued at 6:30 p.m. yesterday.
“Should an uptrend or pronounced change in monitored parameters forewarn of potential eruption, the alert level may be raised back to AL3,” it added.
AL3 was raised over the volcano following its major eruption Dec. 9 last year.
The DSWD Disaster Response Management said there are 1,287 families, or 4,180 persons currently staying in 18 evacuation centers in Negros, as per its DROMIC, as of 6 a.m. July 29.
Another 3,309 families, or 10,651 individuals are seeking shelter with relatives or friends, it added.
The DSWD said humanitarian assistance to Kanlaon victims reached P197.4 million, while available relief resources stood at P2.39 billion, including P233 million in Quick Response Fund.
The Phivolcs, meanwhile, urged concerned local government units to continue to prepare their communities within the PDC hazard zone for subsequent evacuation, in case unrest re-escalates and progresses into magmatic eruption.
“Increased vigilance against potential lahars and sediment-laden streamflows in channels draining the volcanic slopes must continually be exercised, in case eruptive unrest resumes under heavy to intense rainfall,” it added. | CGC
