The restive Mount Kanlaon in Negros yesterday generated a steam-driven or low-energy phreatic eruption, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
The eruption happened around 9:47 a.m. and lasted approximately 10 minutes based on Kanlaon’s seismic monitoring network.
Phivolcs said the volcano ejected steam and dark ash but was poorly observed due to clouds covering the summit region.
Rumbling sound was reportedly heard in Barangay Manghanoy, La Castellana, and thin ash was observed in Sitio Guintubdan, Barangay Ara-al, La Carlota City.
Phivolcs said that the eruption was preceded by resumption of degassing at the summit crater at 6:34 a.m. which was last observed in September 2016.
Last Nov. 15, Phivolcs raised Kanlaon’s alert level to 2, meaning the volcano is undergoing a moderate level of unrest. It said the volcano’s Alert Level 2 status prevails.
Phivolcs warned that there is a probable intrusion of magma at depth which may or may not lead to a magmatic eruption.
It reminded the concerned local government units and the public of the strict entry into the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone.
The entry into the PDZ is strictly prohibited due to the further possibilities of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions, Phivolcs said.
Civil aviation authorities were asked to advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ejecta from any sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.
According to Phivolcs, Kanlaon had 30 eruptions in history and the last time was in June 18, 2016. (Ellalyn V. Ruiz)
