Heavy sulfur dioxide odor from Kanlaon Volcano reached 19 schools in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday morning, September 24, Mayor Ella Garcia Yulo said.
She said students were instructed to wear masks, while in some schools they were sent home.
The sulfur smell also briefly hit the center of the town but rain later in the day diffused the odor, she said.
The mayor reminded residents to wear masks or place handkerchiefs or clean cloths over their faces in areas hit by the sulfur smell.
Those with asthma, experiencing chest pains or are unwell should go to the town health center immediately, Yulo added.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Kanlaon Volcano had 15 volcanic earthquakes and emitted 7,107 tons of sulfur dioxide from 12 a.m. Monday to 12 a.m. Tuesday.
Although the numbers are lower than in previous weeks Alert Level 2 remains over Kanlaon Volcano, Mari-Andylene Quintia, Phivolcs resident volcanologist, said.
The possibility of a magmatic eruption still remains, she warned.
She said for the volcano to be considered normal its volcanic earthquakes should be at 0 to 5 per day, and sulfur dioxide emitted should be less than 300 tons.
“The numbers at Kanlaon now are still way beyond normal,” Quintia said.
During phreatic explosions at Kanlaon in 2015 and 2017 the elevated volcanic parameters dropped soon after, Quintia said.
However, since Kanlaon’s eruption on June 3 this year its parameters continue to remain high, which means an eruption is still possible, Quintia said.
Mayor Rex Jalandoon said sulfur odor also hit La Carlota City Tuesday afternoon.*