The Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island remains active, with ongoing ash emissions and heightened sulfur dioxide (SO₂) output, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported on Monday.
Volcanic Activity Update
PHIVOLCS observed:
- Ash emissions: Occasional ash plumes, up to 75 meters tall, drifting southwest and south-southwest.
- Sulfur dioxide emissions: A spike to 6,535 tonnes on Sunday, up from 3,620 tonnes on Saturday.
- Volcanic earthquakes: Twelve recorded tremors, slightly fewer than the 14 from the previous day.
The volcano’s edifice remains inflated, indicating ongoing magmatic activity.
Previous Explosive Eruption
On December 9, Kanlaon experienced a significant eruption, producing a plume that rose 4,000 meters. Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) descended its slopes, and ashfall was reported in nearby areas.
Current Alert Level and Hazards
Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 3, signifying high volcanic unrest. PHIVOLCS warns that a hazardous eruption could occur within weeks.
Potential hazards include:
- Sudden explosive eruptions
- Lava flows or effusions
- Ashfall
- Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs)
- Rockfalls
- Lahars during heavy rains
The danger zone has been expanded to a 6-kilometer radius from the summit crater.
Impact on Communities
As of December 14, the Office of Civil Defense reported:
- Affected individuals: 65,850 people (14,943 families).
- Evacuated individuals: 15,665 people (4,691 families) currently in evacuation centers.
Local authorities continue to monitor the situation and assist displaced residents.