Kanlaon Volcano emitting ‘dark ash’ —PHIVOLCS

Kanlaon Volcano continuously emitted dark ash on Thursday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said.

“Continuous emission of dark ash ongoing at Kanlaon Volcano since 11:45 am. An advisory will be released,” PHIVOLCS said on Facebook.

“Marami tayong ash emissions, ang pagkakaroon ng dark ash emission ay maaaring dulot ng gas-driven explosion sa bunganga ng bulkan na naga-angat ng mga materyal na tulad ng abo,” said PHIVOLCS director Teresito Bacolcol in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. 

(We have ash emissions and dark ash emissions may have been caused by gas-driven explosions at the volcano’s crater, which in turn pushes up the ashes.) 

PHIVOLCS issued a notice of increased volcanic ash emission from Kanlaon Volcano.

“Since 11:45 am, dark ash has been issuing from the summit of Kanlaon Volcano accompanied by weak low frequency volcanic earthquake. This has produced a dark plume roughly 1.2 kilometers tall that is drifting to the northwest,” PHIVOLCs said in an advisory.

PHIVOLCS said ashfall is expected to fall over the communities northwest to west of the volcano in Negros Occidental.

Volcanic earthquakes

At least 15 volcanic earthquakes were monitored at Kanlaon Volcano over a 24-hour period. It also spewed 7,198 tonnes of sulfur dioxide on Sunday, December 22. 

On December 9, an explosive eruption occurred at the summit vent of Kanlaon Volcano, producing a voluminous plume that rapidly rose to 4,000 meters.

Ashfall was reported and pyroclastic density currents or PDCs descended the slopes of the volcano.

Alert Level 3 was raised over Kanlaon Volcano, which means there is a high level of volcanic unrest. Magmatic intrusion to shallow levels of the edifice is driving unrest, with indications that hazardous eruption could occur in weeks. 

Possible hazards from the volcano include sudden explosive eruption, lava flow or effusion, ashfall, pyroclastic density current (PDC), rockfall, and lahars during heavy rains.

Danger zone was expanded to a radius of six kilometers from the summit crater or active vent.

Further, PHIVOLCS advised nearby residents to wear N95 face masks or surgical masks due to the ash emissions. If face masks are not available, Bacolcol recommended using a wet towel to cover their nose and mouth.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 6 earlier 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. —with Vince Angelo Ferreras/AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News