PHIVOLCS records 43 quakes at Kanlaon Volcano

Forty-three volcanic earthquakes occurred at the Kanlaon Volcano since Monday midnight, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said Tuesday morning.

Aside from the 6-minute long explosive eruption that Kanlaon Volcano had Monday night, it also emitted a 5,000-meter tall plume, which was considered “voluminous.” The plume drifted southwest and south-southeast.

The volcano also generated 797 tonnes of sulfur dioxide flux on Sunday, June 2, while its edifice remained inflated.  

PHIVOLCS raised the alert level at Kanlaon Volcano from Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2 on Monday, meaning its increased unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes could eventually lead to “further explosive eruptions or even precede hazardous magmatic eruption.”

Interviewed on Unang Balita on Tuesday, PHIVOLCS director Teresito Bacolcol said that they are looking at three scenarios following Kanlaon Volcano’s eruption.

“Kapag ang monitoring parameters natin are maintained, pwedeng magkaron ng phreatic and short-lived explosive eruptions in the next few days. So if this happens, Alert Level 2 will be maintained,” he said.

(When our monitoring parameters are maintained, there may be phreatic and short-lived explosive eruptions in the next few days. So if this happens, Alert Level 2 will be maintained.)

“Kapag dumadami naman ang earthquakes natin [at ang] ground deformation and volcanic parameters ay lalala, pwedeng magkaron ng magmatic eruption. If this happens, pwedeng itaas namin ‘yung alert level from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3,” he added.

(When the volcanic earthquakes increase and the ground deformation and volcanic parameters get worse, magmatic eruptions can occur. If this happens, we can raise the alert level from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3.)

Usually, Kanlaon Volcano only has less than five volcanic earthquakes within a day, Bacolcol said.

He said that the alert level may be deescalated back to Alert Level 1 if the monitoring parameters would decline “after sufficient observation has elapsed.”

Since 1866, Kanlaon Volcano had 43 volcanic eruptions, including the one that happened on Monday, Bacolcol said. The reason for this is because the volcano is active.

Entry into the 4-kilometer radius permanent danger zone of Kanlaon Volcano and flying any aircraft close to the volcano are currently not allowed.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council of Negros Occidental has placed the province under "Blue Alert" a few hours after the eruption of the volcano.

Three towns on Negros Island have begun evacuation of residents.

These are Canlaon City in Negros Oriental, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, and La Castellana, Negros Occidental.

Some flights were also canceled due to Kanlaon Volcano's eruption. —KG, GMA Integrated News