Kanlaon Volcano spews 500-meter ash

The Kanlaon Volcano had another ash emission activity on Sunday morning that reached 500 meters, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol said the release of ash lasted for 10 minutes.

Aside from this, 14 volcanic earthquakes were recorded at Kanlaon Volcano from 12 a.m. of January 11 to 12 a.m. of January 12. It included two weak volcanic tremors that were 50 minutes to nearly two hours long.

The volcano, which straddles the provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental, also generated 3,511 tonnes of sulfur dioxide on Saturday, which was lower than the 5,763 tonnes it released a day prior.

Bacolcol said that the recent observations at Kanlaon Volcano were similar to those monitored before its eruption on December 9.

“May nakikita tayong pamamaga [ng bulkan] sa may southeastern side, nagkakaroon tayo ng inflation… And kapag titignan ang sulfur dioxide natin, biglang bumagsak,” he said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(We noticed an increased ground deformation swelling on the volcano’s southeastern side. It has inflation. The sulfur dioxide also suddenly decreased.)

“Although ngayon hindi masyadong mababa kasi before December 9, umabot ‘to ng 1,699 tonnes per day. So ibig sabihin nito, most likely nabarahan ‘yung conduit. ‘Yun din ang tinitignan natin ngayon kasi nagkaro'n tayo ng inflation do’n sa summit,” he added.

(Although now, the sulfur dioxide is not that low because before the December 9 eruption, it reached 1,699 tonnes per day. Most likely, this means that the conduit of the volcano is blocked. That’s what we’re looking at because the summit is also inflated.)

PHIVOLCS released an advisory on Saturday, saying that since Friday evening, the middle to upper portion of the eastern edifice had been experiencing inflation or swelling.

There was a sharp increase in inflationary tilt at 7:20 p.m. on Friday, which meant a sudden pressure within the upper portion of the edifice.

Inflation activities were also recorded over the southeastern flank and deflation activities were recorded over the western flank.

Alert Level 3 remains hoisted over Kanlaon Volcano, signalling a magmatic unrest following its explosive eruption on December 9. —KG, GMA Integrated News