Hazardous eruption possible in Kanlaon Volcano in the following weeks

Kanlaon Volcano may have a hazardous eruption in the following weeks, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said on Tuesday.

PHIVOLCS chief Teresito Bacolcol said Alert Level 3, which means magmatic unrest, is raised over the volcano after its explosive eruption on Monday.

“Ang Alert Level 3 po ay nangangahulugan ng posibilidad na magkaroon ng hazardous eruption in the following weeks,” Bacolcol told Unang Balita in an interview.

(Alert Level 3 means there is a possibility of a hazardous eruption in the following weeks.)

Unlike in the previous activities of Kanlaon Volcano that only involved steam and ash, Bacolcol said the recent explosion involved magma which is molten rock that is formed in very hot conditions inside the earth.

“May magma na pong involved, unlike yung mga previous activity ng Kanlaon Volcano na may steaming and may kasamang abo,” he said.

(There is now magma involved, unlike the previous activities of the Kanlaon Volcano with steam and ash.)

“When we talk about magmatic eruption, this is magma na lumalabas at nagkaroon ng lava. Pero so far, hindi pa po natin nakikita yan ngayon sa Kanlaon Volcano,” he added.

(When we talk about magmatic eruption, there's magma coming out. But so far we have not seen that in Kanlaon Volcano.)

But state seismologists said that it is still difficult to determine when the magmatic or major eruption will happen in the coming days. 

“Sa atin pong analysis ay talaga pong naghahanda na ng magmatic eruption ang Kanlaon. Ang tanong lamang po ay kailan, papaano, at gaano kalakas o gaano katindi ang pagputok,” said Maria Antonia Bornas, PHIVOLCS Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division chief, in Jun Veneracion’s report in 24 Oras. 

(Based on our analysis, Kanlaon might have a magmatic eruption soon. The question is when, how, and how strong the eruption would be.) 

Hence, PHIVOLCS is advising nearby residents to stay away from the vicinity of the volcano for their safety. 

“Pinapayuhan natin ang ating mga residente na huwag munang pumasok sa six-kilometer danger zone. Kahapon, it was an explosion, a strong explosion kahapon ang nangyari,” Bacolcol  added.

(We advise our residents not to enter the six-kilometer danger zone. Yesterday, it was an explosion, a strong explosion.)

“Pinapayuhan natin ang ating mga residente na huwag munang pumasok sa six-kilometer danger zone. Kahapon, it was an explosion, a strong explosion kahapon ang nangyari,” he added.

(We advise our residents not to enter the six-kilometer danger zone. Yesterday, it was an explosion, a strong explosion.)

Unlike in the previous activities of Kanlaon Volcano that only involved steam and ash, Bacolcol said the recent explosion involved magma.

“May magma na pong involved, unlike yung mga previous activity ng Kanlaon Volcano na may steaming and may kasamang abo,” he said.

(There is now magma involved, unlike the previous activities of the Kanlaon Volcano with steam and ash.)

“When we talk about magmatic eruption, this is magma na lumalabas at nagkaroon ng lava. Pero so far, hindi pa po natin nakikita yan ngayon sa Kanlaon Volcano,” he added.

(When we talk about magmatic eruption, there's magma coming out. But so far we have not seen that in Kanlaon Volcano.)

In its bulletin on Tuesday, PHIVOLCS said the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on Monday lasted 3 minutes and 55 seconds.

Pyroclastic density currents traveled around 2 to 3.4 kilometers from the crater.

“This is a fast-moving mixture of hot volcanic gases, ash, and rock fragments na bumabagsak sa dalisdis ng bulkan. Mabilis po ang takbo nito, typically reaching hundreds of kilometers per hour,” Bacolcol said.

(This is a fast-moving mixture of hot volcanic gases, ash, and rock fragments falling down the slope of the volcano. It runs fast, typically reaching hundreds of kilometers per hour.)

“Delikado po itong pyroclastic density current kasi destructive ito and pwede masunog everything in their path including vegetation, buildings, pati tao pwede masunog. Yes po, nakakasunog po ito, nakakapatay po ito,” he added.

(This pyroclastic density current is dangerous because it is destructive and can burn everything in their path including vegetation, buildings, even people can burn. Yes, it's deadly.)

The volcano had a 4,000-meters eruption column and a voluminous emission of plumes which drifted to the west and south-southwest directions.

PHIVOLCS recorded a total of 20 volcanic earthquakes and observed an inflated edifice of the volcano.

Before the eruption, 1,669 tons of sulfur dioxide gas was monitored from Kanlaon Volcano on Monday, according to PHIVOLCS.

State seismologists said that among the signs they are looking for to raise an Alert Level 4 include slow rise of magma and swelling of the volcano.

If these signs appear, this means a major eruption might happen with volcanic plumes reaching up to 10 kilometers and pyroclastic density current could flow by over 6 kilometers.

“Sa Alert Level 4 dapat po lahat ng maaring maapektuhan ng worst case scenario eruption ay naka-evacuate na. Dahil ang Alert Level 5 po is merely a statement of ongoing worst case scenario eruption,” Bornas said. 

(Under Alert Level 4, everyone who could be affected by the worst case scenario eruption should already evacuate. When we reached the Alert Level 5, this would be just merely a statement of the ongoing worst case scenario eruption.) 

Before the eruption, 1,669 tons of sulfur dioxide gas was monitored from Kanlaon Volcano on Monday, according to PHIVOLCS.

The Office of Civil Defense said that around 87,000 individuals are set to be evacuated from their homes following Kanlaon Volcano’s eruption.

Classes at all levels and government work in Canlaon, Negros Oriental were immediately suspended on Monday after the explosion.

Meanwhile, ashfall from the eruption has reached the provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras.

In Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, student athletes took shelter in tents as the ashfall halted the opening ceremony of an interschool sports activity, GMA Regional TV’s Aileen Pedreso reported.

Meanwhile in Tagbauan, Iloilo, ash also covered some parked vehicles.

Many residents in Negros Occidental evacuated their homes and stayed in some schools due to the activity of Kanlaon Volcano. In La Castellana town, six campuses were used as evacuation centers.

The Department of Health (DOH) advised affected residents to wear masks and clothes with long sleeves to protect themselves from these hazards.

They are also advised to close the doors and windows of their houses, take their animals inside their pens, and wash fruits and vegetables before eating them.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ensured that the government is ready to assist those affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.

Marcos said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has already assured him that it is ready to provide necessary resources.

“So yes, we are ready to support the families, who have been evacuated outside the 6-km danger zone,” Marcos said.