BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The city government of La Carlota in Negros Occidental warned residents near Kanlaon volcano of possible ashfall.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) monitored a sudden increase in volcanic earthquakes – a total 66 – from 5 a.m. of April 29 to 5 a.m. of April 30.
It also recorded sulfur dioxide flux at 58 tonnes per day since April 23.
Yesterday, the sulfur dioxide emission increased to 67 tonnes.
Volcanologists monitoring Kanlaon also observed weak emission of smoke rising 100 meters high and drifting northwest and southwest.
Ground deformation data also showed the volcano’s edifice slightly inflated.
Due to the sudden increase in volcanic activity, the La Carlota City government released an advisory on Saturday alerting residents of barangays Ara-al, San Miguel, Yubo, and Haguimit all near Kanlaon be on the lookout for possible ashfall.
However, the city government also told its residents not to panic, assuring them that Kanlaon is constantly being monitored by Phivolcs.
Despite the increase in activity, Kanlaon is still under Alert Level 1 and residents are told not to enter the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone.
Still, all aircraft were advised to steer away from the volcano due to possible sudden steam-driver or phreatic eruptions./PN
