THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported that volcanic ash was periodically “entrained” or spat out from Kanlaon Volcano’s summit crater on Saturday.
In a tweet, PHIVOLCS provided an IP camera image of the activity in Kanlaon Volcano’s crater, which shows that the peak is currently shrouded by clouds.
LOOK: IP camera monitors of the Kanlaon Volcano Network have recorded volcanic ash being intermittently “entrained” or brought out by continuous degassing from Kanlaon’s summit crater. The volcano summit is currently obscured by clouds. Alert Level 2 prevails over Kanlaon… pic.twitter.com/gvp7EEQsyr
— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) October 19, 2024
Kanlaon Volcano, which straddles the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, is at Alert Level 2, according to PHIVOLCS.
Additionally, in its 12:30 p.m. bulletin, PHIVOLCS reported that small occurrences of gray ash were observed at 6:41 and 7:01 a.m. And 8:01 a.m. Visual observations revealed that it lasted between two and six minutes.
However, no measurable seismic or infrasound signals from these events were captured.
“The events generated light-gray plumes that rose 500 meters above the crater before drifting southwest,” the agency stated.
Ash was found in the barangays of Yubo and Ara-al in La Carlota City, as well as in Barangay Sag-ang in La Castellana, Negros Occidental. Furthermore, sulfurous emissions were reported in Barangay Yubo.
The EPA reported that volcanic sulfur dioxide emissions from Kanlaon’s summit crater averaged 2,769 tonnes/day on Friday, based on campaign Flyspec observations.
According to PHIVOLCS, Kanlaon has been degassing rising amounts of volcanic sulfur dioxide this year at an average rate of 3,383 tonnes/day prior to its June 3, 2024 eruption, but emission has grown significantly since then, with a current average of 4,133 tonnes/day.
Volcanic ash in the degassing plume implies vent circumstances in which volcanic gas may transport tiny particles from fractured rock or perhaps the margins of shallow magma beneath the edifice, according to PHIVOLCS.
According to the report, civil aviation officials should caution pilots to avoid flying near the volcano’s summit because ash and ballistic debris from a quick eruption can pose a threat to aircraft.
Residents residing near river systems on the southern and western slopes, particularly those that have experienced lahars and muddy stream flows, are recommended to take precautions when heavy rainfall over the volcano is predicted or has started, according to PHIVOLCS.
“The public is reminded that Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest) prevails over Kanlaon, but that current activity may lead to eruptive unrest and an increase in the Alert Level,” advises PHIVOLCS.
“The public is strongly advised to be ready and vigilant, and to avoid entry into the four (4) kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) to minimize risks from volcanic hazards such as pyroclastic density currents, ballistic projectiles, rockfall and others,” according to the notice.
On June 3, Kanlaon Volcano erupted, sending plumes up to 5,000 meters. Alert Level 2 or “increasing unrest” was elevated over Kanlaon Volcano from Alert Level 1, indicating a minor increase in volcanic earthquake and steam activity.
Prior to this incident, Kanlaon Volcano had been relatively inactive for nearly seven years.