PHIVOLCS warns of possible explosive eruption, lahar flow from Kanlaon Volcano

 The director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) warned that further eruptions and lava flow may occur in Mt. Kanlaon after its explosive eruption Tuesday morning.

PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol said that further eruptions and lava flow may occur in Mt. Kanlaon. In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview on Tuesday, Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 3, which meant a hazardous or explosive eruption is possible.

“Pwede pa rin itong masundan ng similar short-lived explosive eruptions or even mas malakas pa. In fact, the eruption that we saw this morning is a repeat of what we saw last December 9… Pwede pong magkaroon ng lava flow. Isa yan sa mga scenarios na tinitingnan natin,” he said.

(This can still be followed by similar short-lived explosive eruptions or even stronger eruptions. In fact, the eruption that we saw this morning is a repeat of what we saw last December 9… A lava flow is a possibility. This is one of the scenarios we are looking at.)

In a separate interview during Balitanghali, Bacolcol described a possible explosive eruption as “highly violent and powerful,” produced by the rapid release of gas and pressure with ash, gasses and pyroclastic currents. Due to this possibility, a magmatic eruption is not ruled out.

Despite this, he clarified that Kanlaon’s previous eruptions were phreatic and that the last time Kanlaon released lava was in 1902.

“'Yung Kanlaon Volcano from time to time, nagkakaroon ng phreatic eruption but this is unique in the sense that this is the first time that we raised it to Alert Level 3,” Bacolcol said.

(From time to time, Kanlaon Volcano gets phreatic eruptions but this is unique in the sense that this is the first time that we raised it to Alert Level 3.)

“The last time that nagkaroon [ang Kanlaon] ng magmatic eruption was in 1902 and hindi pa 'yan nasundan… We're watching closely Kanlaon Volcano,” he added.

(The last time a magmatic eruption occurred [in Kanlaon] was in 1902 and it didn’t happen again… We're watching closely Kanlaon Volcano.)

Due to the ongoing volcanic activity, Bacolcol said it is possible for PHIVOLCS to raise Kanlaon’s alert level from Level 3 to Level 4, and expand the danger zone to 10 kilometers.

PHIVOLCS is continuing to monitor for further activity and volcanic quakes, saying they have observed no new eruptions following the initial eruption on Tuesday.

“For now, wala pa tayong nakikitang uptick sa mga monitoring parameters natin, so that's the reason why right now, maintain pa rin natin 'yung Alert Level 3,” Bacolcol stated.

(For now, we don’t see any upticks on our monitoring parameters, so that’s the reason why right now, Alert Level 3 remains.)

“It's too early to tell pa since katatapos lang ang eruption,” he added.

(It’s too early to tell since the eruption just ended.)

Bacolcol reminded residents living near Mt. Kanlaon to stay away from the six-kilometer danger zone, and to listen to advisories from local government units and government agencies.

“Huwag po silang maniniwala sa mga fake news and 'wag po nilang balewalain ang panganib ng posibleng pagputok ng Kanlaon Volcano,” he advised.

(Let us not believe in fake news and let us not disregard the dangers of the possible eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.) —Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News