• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The odor of sulfur has been reported again in several barangays of the cities of La Carlota and Bago in Negros Occidental, as the degassing of Kanlaon volcano continues, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
Mari-Andylene Quintia, PHIVOLCS resident volcanologist at the Mt. Kanlaon Observatory, reported the sulfuric smell on Friday, in the barangays of Haguimit, La Granja, Yubo, and San Miguel in La Carlota, and Brgy. Ilijan in Bago City.
The sulfuric odor was also earlier reported in several barangays of La Castellana located at the foot of Kanlaon volcano
Ashfall was reported on Thursday in upper Sitio Bais, Brgy. Yubo, La Carlota, and Sitio Guintubdan, Brgy. Ilijan, Bago City, according to Quintia.
Eighteen tourism employees assigned to the Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center in Brgy. Ilijan, in Bago City, were ordered not to report to work on Thursday, due to the strong odor of sulfur and thin ash fall, according to City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer Merinje Ortizo.
Kanlaon Volcano is under Alert Level 2 (increased unrest) and had 24 volcanic earthquakes. It also emitted 7,378 tons of sulfur dioxide on Thursday, PHIVOLCS said.
While there was no reported ashfall on Friday, La Carlota City Mayor Rex Jalandoon said he advised residents, especially in areas affected with the sulfuric odor, to wear masks, both outdoors and indoors.
On the other hand, Quintia reported another occurrence of an ashing event, from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday. But there was no ash fall or seismic signals that accompanied it, she added.
Volcanic ash in the degassing plume signifies open vent conditions in which volcanic gas can carry fine debris from fractured rock, or even from the margins of shallow magma beneath the edifice, Quintia said.*
