The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said it is not raising the Alert Level 1 status of Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island despite its recent increased volcanic earthquakes, Zeaphard Caelian, Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Management Program Division head, disclosed on Tuesday, July 5.
Kanlaon Volcano on July 1 had nine volcanic earthquakes, July 2 – 15, July 3 – 19, July 4 – 21 and July 5 – 17, Phivolcs reported.
The increased seismic activity and short-term ground deformation at Kanlaon are likely caused by shallow hydrothermal processes beneath the edifice that could generate phreatic or steam-driven eruptions from the summit crater, Phivolcs said.
Kanlaon Volcano is at Alert Level 1, which means that it is at low-level unrest, it added.
Caelian said with Kanlaon remaining under Alert Level 1, there is no need for the evacuation of residents of nearby barangays.
Evacuation will only take place if Alert Level 3 is raised, he said.
However, he assured that the provincial government has an evacuation plan in place and drills have been conducted for nearby areas.
Caelian noted that there was a decrease in volcanic earthquakes at Kanlaon on Tuesday.*