A “major activity” at Kanlaon Volcano that will cause the raising of its alert level to four is expected before it calms down, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, Jan. 27.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) informed him that it will now declare all ash emissions at Kanlaon as eruptions following their recent increase, the governor said.
“They mentioned that before Kanlaon will simmer down it will have to experience a culminating activity, it could be a lava flow, fireworks. Definitely there will come a point where the alert level will be increased,” he said.
“In short they are saying for sure there will be a major activity before it calms down. Ash emission is now considered an eruption but this is not yet the activity that will finally cause it (Kanlaon) to calm down,” he said.
If Alert Level 4 is raised it will increase the danger zone around Kanlaon to 14 kilometers and cause the evacuation of more than 37,000 residents in Negros Occidental, he said.
Kanlaon Volcano had eight ash emissions or minor eruptions and 30 volcanic earthquakes from 12 a.m. Sunday to 12 a.m. Monday, Phivolcs reported. It also emitted 2,964 tons of sulfur dioxide on Sunday, it said.
Mari-Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist at the PHIVOLCS Kanlaon Volcano Observatory in La Carlota City, said there were three more minor eruptions at Kanlaon Monday afternoon.
“Ashfall – is the deposition of ash from the air from eruption plumes emitted during explosive volcanic eruptions”, Phivolcs said.
A drop in sulfur dioxide was observed at Kanlaon that could mean the volcano conduit is clogged. A volcano conduit is the pipe that carries magma from the magma chamber to the volcano’s vent, she said.
When a conduit is clogged, magma can’t flow out easily, which increases the pressure causing stones to fracture and the emission of ash, she said.
The ash emissions mean magma is traveling to the surface of the volcano, she added.
Meanwhile, Lacson said La Castellana officials prefer that their constituents be relocated within the town.
Although 100 tents that can house about 500 residents are being readied in Himamaylan City, he said.
Bago City and La Carlota City have already signed Memorandums of Agreement with local government units in northern Negros for the relocation of their evacuees under Alert Level 4, he said.*