ILOILO City – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) continues to caution residents on Negros Island after recording five ash emission events from Kanlaon volcano on Sunday morning, January 26.
Based on time-lapse footage from Phivolcs, ash emissions occurred between 5:40 a.m. to 6:07 a.m. and 9:42 a.m. to 10:28 a.m.
The eruptions generated grayish plumes rising 200 to 750 meters above the summit crater, drifting southwest, according to the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory’s Canlaon City Basler Camera and IP Camera.
Light ashfall was reported in La Castellana town and La Carlota City in Negros Occidental.
Prior to these events, 14 ash emissions were recorded within the past 24 hours, lasting from two to 65 minutes.
The volcano also registered 35 volcanic earthquakes, including 11 volcanic tremors lasting between four and 38 minutes.
Additionally, Kanlaon emitted 2,659.8 tons of sulfur dioxide and generated a 900-meter-high voluminous plume, which drifted west and southwest during the same period.
Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 3, indicating intensified magmatic unrest. Phivolcs warns of potential hazards, including sudden explosive eruptions, lava flows, ashfall, pyroclastic density currents, rockfalls, and lahars during heavy rainfall.
Aircraft are strictly prohibited from flying near the 8,087-foot volcano due to the dangers posed by its activity.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is exploring unoccupied super typhoon “Yolanda” housing projects in Negros Occidental as potential relocation sites for those affected by the volcano’s unrest.
Task Force Kanlaon chief Raul Fernandez has called for an inventory of housing projects in cities such as Cadiz, Escalante, and Bacolod. Agreements are also being prepared to utilize schools as evacuation centers./PN
