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No sign yet of magma pushing up Kanlaon Volcano crater; alert level 1 stays —PHIVOLCS
Kanlaon Volcano remains restive on Sunday but there is no sign yet of magma rising toward the crater, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said.
"Mayroong pagtaas ng aktibidad ng Kanlaon Volcano pero ito po ay nananatiling nasa Alert Level 1," PHIVOLCS director Renato Solidum Jr. said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.
Solidum said the volcano has registered more volcanic earthquakes
in the past three days and its sulfur dioxide gas level went up."Posibleng ang nangyayari sa kasalukuyan ay ang pagpapakulo ng tubig diyan sa Kanlaon Volcano kaya dumami ang bilang ng volcanic earthquakes sa nakalipas na tatlong araw, ang pagtaas ng sulfur dioxide gas na initial na pagbuga ng gas, at patuloy na pamamaga," he said.
"At ito po ay kailangang pag-ingatan kaya nagbabala tayo na huwag pumasok sa 4-kilometer permanent danger zone sa kasalukuyan," Solidum said.
In its 8 a.m. volcanic bulletin on Sunday, PHIVOLCS said seven volcanic earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours.
"Moderate emission of white steam-laden plumes that rose 500 meters before drifting southeast and northwest was observed," it said.
"Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission was measured at an average of 1130 tonnes/day on 13 February 2021. Ground deformation data from continuous GPS and electronic tilt measurements have been recording a slight inflation of the lower and middle slopes since June 2020. These parameters may indicate hydrothermal or magmatic processes occurring deep beneath the edifice," PHIVOLCS added.
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Solidum said in the past, Kanlaon Volcano's eruptions were mostly phreatic or steam-driven.
"Pero tinitingnan din natin ang posibilidad ng pag-akyat ng magma. Sa kasalukuyan, wala pa tayong indikasyon na ganoon," he said.
Solidum reiterated the institute's advisory for the public to keep away from the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone.
"'Yung mga ilang barangays ng Kanlaon City malapit doon, kailangang ready sila kung magkaroon ng aktibidad," he added.
Residents should also have emergency bags they can readily bring with them to designated evacuation centers, Solidum said.
PHIVOLCS also said pilots should avoid flying close to the crater of Kanlaon Volcano as any sudden phreatic eruption may cause damage to aircraft. —KG, GMA News