• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology disclosed on Friday that the present activities of Kanlaon volcano does not yet warrant an increase of its alert level, contrary to some media reports.
According to Ma. Antonia Bornas, PHIVOLCS Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division (VMEPD) chief, the drop in volcanic emissions, especially sulfur dioxide, is only one of the key parameters for monitoring an active volcano.
There have been claims being circulated that the sulfur dioxide emissions coming from Kanlaon Volcano, which recently started to drop, may indicate an imminent explosion.
Alert Level 3 remains hoisted over Kanlaon Volcano.
PHIVOLCS logged 1,691 tons of SO2 emissions on January 28, which have increased in the succeeding days.
Bornas said that the Alert Level 4 scenario may be considered if there is a rapid volcanic inflation, as detected by all their stations, continuing earthquakes, and fluctuation of SO2 emissions.
She described the June 3 and December 9, 2024 activities of Kanlaon Volcano as “mildly explosive eruptions.”
However, the Office of the Civil Defense is preparing for the worst case scenario, where if Alert Level 4 were declared, about 100,000 residents will be affected by an eruption of Kanlaon.
The establishment of a tent city for La Castellana evacuees is now in progress at Himamaylan City, while the concerned local government unit is also exploring other LGUs in northern Negros to shelter its evacuees.
On the other hand, Canlaon City is looking at Vallehermoso and neighboring LGUs in Negros Oriental to shelter its residents who may be affected by an eruption.
In the past 24 hours, Phivolcs recorded three ash eruptions of 17 to 98 minutes long, and nine volcanic earthquakes, including three volcanic tremors. It also logged the emission of 3,385 tons of SO2 on Jan. 30, reaching as high as 100 meters from the summit of the volcano.*