• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported five ash emission events on March 6 at the Kanlaon Volcano summit.
Mari-Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist at the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory, however, said that they have not monitored ash fall at the communities surrounding Kanlaon.
Quintia said they only observed grayish plumes rising up to 300 meters above the crater.
Alert Level 3 remains over Kanlaon Volcano, indicative of possible short-lived explosions in the short term, which may cause pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) within the 6-kilometer extended danger zone.
Sulfur dioxide flux of 2,574 tons and three volcanic quakes were recorded by PHIVOLCS on March 5, with continuous degassing and occasional ash emissions drifting northwest.
Quintia explained that ash emissions took place because of a blockage which led to pressure build-up within the volcanic conduit or channel.
A total of 3,871 families, composed of more than 8,000 individuals, have been displaced by the Kanlaon eruption on December 9, last year. They are now staying inside and outside of evacuation centers in cities of Bago and La Carlota, and La Castellana in Negros Occidental, excluding those in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, according to reports of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 6.*
