• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) logged three more ash emissions at the Kanlaon Volcano on October 20, with 25 volcanic quakes recorded since Sunday.
Ruth Asentista, PHIVOLCS Project Technical VI stationed Kanlaon Observatory in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, disclosed that the first ash emission started on Monday, from 7:28 a.m. until 7:38 a.m., while the second emission started from 9:20 a.m. to 10:54 a.m, a duration of one hour and 34 minutes, with plumes as high as 300 meters.
Another ash emission followed at 4:56 p.m. on the same day.
Asentista said that as of press time, they have yet to receive reports of ash fall.
No sulfuric odor was monitored in the barangays surrounding Kanlaon Volcano.
On Oct. 15, PHIVOLCS also reported two events of ash emission at the crater of Kanlaon Volcano.
The ash emission activities of Kanlaon Volcano may indicate a volcanic event, such as a minor explosive eruption, disclosed earlier by Ma. Antonia Bornas, chief of PHIVOLCS Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, who also reported a series of seismic activities.
Despite continuing restiveness of the volcano, it remains under Alert Level 2, where entry to its 4-kilometer permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited by PHIVOLCS.
Authorities remind nearby communities to exercise caution due to possible ashfall and reduced visibility in affected areas.
The Police Regional Office – Negros Island Region said it continues its round-the-clock monitoring and assistance operations, following the recent ash emission and heightened unrest of Kanlaon Volcano.
It has strategically positioned police personnel in La Castelllana, Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, to assist displaced families, maintain peace and order, border control, and to ensure protection of the evacuees, especially against gender-based violence.
A total of 80 families, composed of 284 individuals, who reside within the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone, are still occupying the six evacuation centers.*
