The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) is keeping a close watch on Kanlaon Volcano with the drop in its sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission to 1,611 tons on Saturday, Feb. 8.
It is a significant drop from the medium-term average of 4,484 tons since June 3, 2024, Mari-Andylene Quintia, Phivolcs resident volcanologist based in La Carlota, Negros Occidental, said on Sunday.
SO2 emission and degassing weakens when the volcanic conduit is plugged resulting in pressure build-up that could trigger explosions such as the minor explosive eruption at Kanlaon on Feb. 6, Quintia said.
Prior to the Feb. 6 eruption the SO2 flux was measured at an average of 2,249 tons, Phivolcs reported.
A Phivolcs also said there were eight volcanic earthquakes at Kanlaon from 12 a.m. Saturday to 12 a.m. Sunday, and its edifice remains inflated.
The volcano remains under Alert Level 3 or magmatic unrest, Phivolcs said.*