• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Kanlaon Volcano continues to show its restiveness, as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology yesterday reported recording 18 volcanic quakes, as of 12 a.m. Sunday.
The volcano is presently under Alert Level 3, indicating intensified or magmatic unrest.
In its latest bulletin, PHIVOLCS reported a sulfur dioxide (S02) flux of 2,407 tons. The volcano also produced a voluminous plume 150 meters high, drifting west direction, with continuous degassing noted by state volcanologists.
On March 7, a single ash emission event at Kanlaon Volcano was reported by PHIVOLCS, after it recorded seven ash eruptions on March 6.
PHIVOLCS said Sunday that Kanlaon Volcano continues to build pressure, thus Alert Level 3 will not be lowered.
PHIVOLCS Director Teresito “Toto” Bacolcol said in a Viber interview with The Manila Times that data on the volcano’s ground deformation showed inflation.
“It indicates that the pressure is still building up beneath the volcano,” Bacolcol said.
Bacolcol said the agency continues to monitor the volcano, particularly volcanic earthquakes and sulfur dioxide emissions.
“It’s difficult to say if the volcano is more likely to erupt or calm down because the ongoing inflation means pressure is building up,” he added.*
