Kanlaon Volcano degasses, emits volcanic ash

Kanlaon Volcano on Saturday morning was observed to be degassing and emitting volcanic ash, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

PHIVOLCS said the latest ash emission episode occurred between 5:46 a.m. to 7:02 a.m.

It persisted for one hour and 16 minutes based on visual observations.

The ash emission generated light-gray plumes reaching 750 meters high above the crater before drifting southwest.

A local resident shared a video of the ash emission, as posted by GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas.

PHIVOLCS said ash traces were reported in Sitio Bais, Brgy. Yubo, La Carlota City and Brgy. Sag-ang, La Castellana.

Meanwhile, in Barangays Yubo and Sag-ang, sulfurous fumes were experienced.

Kanlaon Volcano has been observed to be degassing since October 19, and occasionally has weak ash emission from its summit crater.

"Visual monitors of the Kanlaon Volcano Network (KVN) have recorded twenty-eight (28) ash emission episodes that lasted four minutes to one hour and eighteen minutes and generated grayish plumes that rose 300 to 800 meters above the summit before drifting to the general west," PHIVOLCS said.

"Ash emission has been generally 'quiet' and occurred without seismic or infrasound signals," it added.

Ash samples from the emissions on October 19, November 2 and November 5 were subjected to microscopic examination and these showed that the ash were composed mainly of pulverized old rock within the edifice and not of material from new magma.

On Friday, Kanlaon Volcano also emitted an average of 4,701 tonnes of sulfur dioxide.

"Kanlaon has been persistently degassing high concentrations of volcanic SO2 with a current average rate of 4,299 tonnes/day since the 3 June 2024 eruption," PHIVOLCS said.

Alert Level 2 (Increasing Unrest) is still in effect in Kanlaon Volcano.

However, PHIVOLCS said, "current activity at the summit crater may lead to eruptive unrest and an increase in the Alert Level."

The agency advised the public to be ready and vigilant and not to attempt to enter the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone.

Possible hazards include pyroclastic density currents, ballistic projectiles, rockfall and others, it added.

"In case of ash fall events that may affect communities downwind of Kanlaon’s crater, people should cover their nose and mouth with a damp, clean cloth or dust mask," PHIVOLCS said.

Flying aircraft close to the volcano is hazardous due to ash and ballistic fragments from any sudden eruption, it added.

PHIVOLCS also warned residents beside river systems on the southern and western slopes of the volcano of the possibility of lahars and muddy streamflows which may occur when there is heavy rainfall. —KG, GMA Integrated News