• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Kanlaon volcano, which was reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to have recorded 17 volcanic quakes, continued to show signs of elevated sulfur dioxide gas flux on Sunday.
PHIVOLCS noted that gas emissions reached 7,172 tons for the day, compared to 6,637 tons on August 24.
“This is the second-highest emission from the volcano recorded this year and since instrumental gas monitoring began,” PHIVOLCS said in an advisory.
Kanlaon volcano had been “degassing increased concentrations of volcanic SO₂” this year at an average rate of 1,273 tons per day before the eruption on June 3, 2024.
But since then, emissions have been particularly elevated, at a current average of 3,295 tons per day.
PHIVOLCS added that volcanic earthquake activity persists at an average of nine events per day since the eruption.
It also observed that the current monitoring parameters indicate shallow magmatic processes beneath the volcano, which are actively contributing to unrest.
This includes persistent and increasing volcanic gas emissions, ongoing volcanic earthquake activity, and swelling of the volcano’s structure.
Amid these developments, PHIVOLCS reminded the public that Alert Level 2 or “increasing unrest” prevails over Kanlaon Volcano.
“This means that there is current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes with increased chances of leading to explosive eruptions or even hazardous magmatic eruptions from the summit crater,” it said.
PHIVOLCS strongly urged the public to remain “vigilant” and avoid entering the four-kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) to reduce risks from volcanic hazards such as pyroclastic density currents, ballistic projectiles, rockfalls, and other potential dangers.*
