Even as 2024 came to an end, the activities at Kanlaon Volcano continued to pose a threat to residents in Negros Island with Alert Level 3 still in effect.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said Wednesday that Kanlaon Volcano had eight ash emission events that lasted for 10 to 71 minutes.
From 12 midnight Tuesday, December 31, to 12 midnight on January 1, there were 45 volcanic earthquakes, including 12 volcanic tremors that were 10 to 64 minutes long, recorded at Kanlaon.
It also released 5,050 tonnes of sulfur dioxide and a voluminous 300-meter tall plume. The volcano’s edifice also remained inflated.
Kanlaon Volcano had an explosive eruption on December 9, prompting PHIVOLCS to raise its status from Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest) to Alert Level 3 (intensified unrest).
Under Alert Level 3, magmatic intrusion to shallow levels of the edifice is driving unrest, with indications that hazardous eruption may occur in weeks.
Possible hazards from the volcano include sudden explosive eruption, lava flow or effusion, ashfall, pyroclastic density current, rockfall, and lahars during heavy rains.
With this, the danger zone was expanded to a radius of six kilometers from the summit crater or active vent.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) earlier said it is preparing for the possible raising of the alert level at Kanlaon Volcano as experts see three potential scenarios regarding its situation: a lava flow, a violent eruption, or a plateau in volcanic activity.
The OCD in Region 6 also said the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone around Kanlaon Volcano may possibly be extended to 10 kilometers due to the threat of lahar flows. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
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