• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) logged another ash emission from Kanlaon Volcano on November 21.
PHIVOLCS Science Research Assistant Ptolemy Mañego disclosed on Friday that the weak ash emission lasted eight minutes.
It generated grayish plumes reaching 75 meters above the crater before drifting west-southwest.
Mañego said they have not monitored any ash fall, nor volcanic quake occurrence.
PHIVOLCS advised the public to stay out of the volcano’s 4-kilometer permanent danger zone due to the risk of sudden explosions, pyroclastic density currents, rockfall, and exposure to harmful volcanic gases.
Regarding the lahar flow, Mañego said they have not monitored any, except during Typhoon Tino.
Boulders and uprooted trees were carried away downstream by cascading muddy water from the upper slopes of Mt. Kanlaon, affecting thousands of people in several towns and cities in central Negros.
PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol earlier explained that ash emissions are expected for Kanlaon Volcano since it is under Alert Level 2 or moderate level of unrest.
“Ash emissions happen when there is a new release of volcanic gas and pressure,” he said.
Degassing brings fine and dry materials or ash that can be found on the volcano’s crater, Bacolcol added.* with PNA reports
