Mount Kanlaon spewed ash 13 times on Thursday — PHIVOLCS

Kanlaon Volcano spewed ash 13 times on Thursday as it remains under Alert Level 3, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said.

The spewing incidents each lasted two minutes up to one hour and 18 minutes during the monitoring period from 12 a.m. of Thursday until 12 a.m. of Friday, state seismologists said.

The volcano also produced a 100-meter high plume as Phivolcs reported continuous degassing with occasional ash emission.

Sulfur dioxide emissions on Thursday averaged 3,999 tons a day.

Seven volcanic earthquakes were also monitored.

With Alert Level 3 in effect, PHIVOLCS reminded residents still within a six-kilometer radius of the volcano to evacuate.

Possible hazards also include sudden explosive eruption, lava flow, ashfall, pyroclastic density current, rockfall, and lahars during heavy rains.

Also on Friday, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. assured that the government was on top of the situation amid Kanlaon's restiveness.

Kanlaon's eruption last Monday has affected 11,791 families or 40,489 persons in Western Visayas and Central Visayas, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said as of Friday.

Of this number, 4,612 families or 15,440 individuals are currently seeking shelter in evacuation centers.

Also on Thursday, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and PHIVOLCS conducted an aerial survey of Kanlaon Volcano.

Two S701 Black Hawk choppers were used for the activity to gather data on potential hazards after its eruption, according to the Philippine Air Force. — VDV, GMA Integrated News