• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The possibility of another eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island remains high, with the continued increase in emissions of high sulfur oxide, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Mari-Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist of Phivolcs Kanlaon Observatory, said on Monday (July 1) that they have monitored 3,007 tons of sulfur dioxide emitted from the volcano on June 30.
Quintia said that the possibility of a phreatic eruption, similar to what happened on June 3, is still high, noting that the magmatic processes beneath the volcano “may be driving current unrest, causing persistently high concentrations of volcanic gas emission, swelling of the edifice”.
On July 1, Phivolcs recorded five volcanic quakes.
Phivolcs also logged 5,397 tonnes of sulfur dioxide from the summit of the volcano.
Quintia said that Alert Level 2 remains in effect at Mt. Kanlaon, and that it is still “unstable.”
She reiterated that there should be no inhabitants within the four-kilometer permanent danger zone, as local government units allowed evacuated residents, whose houses are located outside the permanent danger zone, to return home. | GB
