The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported that Kanlaon Volcano emitted 6,367 tonnes of sulfur dioxide (SO2) on Saturday, marking the third-highest level of SO2 emissions recorded this year.
The sulfurous fumes affected several barangays in Murcia, Negros Occidental.
The volcano also produced 700-meter-high steam-rich plumes, a result of intense degassing from its summit crater.
PHIVOLCS noted that Kanlaon has been releasing increased levels of volcanic SO2 this year, averaging 1,273 tonnes per day before the June 3, 2024 eruption. However, the emissions have significantly risen since then, now averaging 3,295 tonnes per day.
Additionally, PHIVOLCS has recorded an average of nine volcanic earthquakes daily since the eruption, alongside a slow but continuous inflation and pressurization of the volcano’s structure since March 2022.
“The current monitoring parameters indicate shallow magmatic processes beneath the volcano are actively causing unrest, characterized by persistent and increasing volcanic gas emissions, continuous earthquake activity, and swelling of the volcano’s structure,” PHIVOLCS stated.
Kanlaon remains at Alert Level 2, signifying a higher likelihood of explosive eruptions or hazardous magmatic activity from the summit crater.
Residents and the public are advised to avoid the four-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and stay vigilant for potential volcanic hazards.