• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Alert Level 2 is now in effect at the Kanlaon volcano, following its phreatic explosion at around 6:51 p.m. Monday night, according to an advisory issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
PHIVOLCS said the eruption produced a voluminous and incandescent plume that rapidly rose to 5,000 meters above its summit vent, and probable short of pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), about two to three kilometers down the southern and southeastern slopes, based on its thermal camera monitors.
The eruption lasted six minutes, which was preceded by a relatively strong volcano-tectonic earthquake, according to PHIVOLCS.
It also reported coarse ashfall and sulfurous odors in communities on western slopes of the volcano, with only two weak volcanic quakes recorded.
La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan and Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia Yulo called on their respective constituents to remain calm and alert.
Due to the magmatic eruption of Kanlaon volcano, ashfall was reported to have hit Barangays Cabagnaan and Manghanoy, and neighboring barangays of La Castellana, located at the foot of the volcano.
Ashfall alert was also raised in the western portion of Canlaon City, La Carlota, Pontevedra, southeastern part of Bago, Valladolid, San Enrique, Hinigaran and Binalbagan.
In raising to Alert Level 2, PHIVOLCS said there is current unrest driven by the shallow magmatic processes that could eventually lead to further explosive eruptions, or even preceded by hazardous magmatic eruption.
It strongly advised the public to be vigilant and avoid the four kilometer radius permanent danger zone to minimize risks from sudden explosions, rockfall, and landslides.
Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit, as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to the aircraft.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, chairperson of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, placed its Emergency Operations Center on blue alert status.
EOC also activated its response clusters, composed of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Provincial Engineering Office, General Services Office, PDRRMO, Bureau of Fire and Protection, 303rd Infantry Brigade, Provincial Health Office and Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.*
