BACOLOD City – Aircraft pilots should avoid flying close to the summit of Kanlaon volcano in Negros Island, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs).
Ejecta from any sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft, it explained.
Kanlaon Volcano’s monitoring network recorded 13 volcanic earthquakes during the 24-hour observation period on Friday last week.
According to Philvolcs, the volcano entered a period of unrest. Moderate emission of white steam-laden plumes that rose 300 meters before drifting southwest was observed.
With an elevation of 2,465 meters (8,087 feet) above sea level, Kanlaon — a stratovolcano — is the highest mountain in the island of Negros as well as the highest point in the whole Visayas.
It is at Alert Level 1, which means it is at an abnormal condition, according to Phivolcs.
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a conical volcano built up by many layers (strata) of hardened lava and tephra or fragmental materials produced by a volcanic eruption.
Scientists consider stratovolcanoes as the most dangerous because these can erupt with little warning, releasing enormous amounts of material.
Local government units and the public are strongly reminded that entry into the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) must be strictly prohibited due to the further possibilities of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.
Ground deformation data from electronic tilt measurements have been recording a slight inflation of the lower and middle slopes since June 2020.
These parameters may indicate hydrothermal, tectonic, or deep-seated magmatic processes occurring deep beneath the edifice./PN
