MANILA, Philippines — State seismologists said they would likely raise the alert status of the Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Islands to Level 4 although it has stopped erupting.
“Anytime it may progress into more explosive explosions even without signal due to its monitoring parameters like volcanic earthquakes and ash emission events,” Teresito Bacolcol, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) chief, told a press briefing on Monday.
Phivolcs reiterated that there would be a strong possibility of raising its alert status from current Level 3 (magmatic unrest) to Level 4 which means there would be an imminent hazardous eruption.
Level 5 is the highest volcanic alert status which means there is a hazardous eruption.
All local government units are advised to evacuate the six-kilometer radius from the summit of the volcano, Phivolcs reiterated.
“It is now mandatory for the evacuation of those living within the permanent danger zone (PDZ),” Bacolcol said.
From Level 2, Phivolcs raised it to Level 3 after an explosive eruption occurred at the summit vent of the Negros Islands volcano at 3:03 p.m., on Monday.
The eruption produced a voluminous plume that rapidly rose to 3,000 meters above the vent and drifted west-southwest, it added.
Pyroclastic density currents or PDCs descended the slopes on the general southeastern edifice based on the agency’s thermal camera monitors, the Phivolcs chief said.
Meanwhile, Phivolcs warned of possible lahar flows which would be worsened if rains in the area continued.
The volcano last erupted on June 3, 2024 and its latest blast was more explosive, the agency said.
“Again, our warning and reminder especially to those near the volcano to be prepared, always vigilant and take precautionary measures,” Bacolcol said.
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