Kanlaon Volcano had 4 volcanic quakes —PHIVOLCS

Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island had four volcanic earthquakes on Friday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said.

The volcano also emitted 5,324 tonnes of sulfur dioxide in the 24-hour period from 12 a.m. Friday to 12 a.m. Saturday, PHIVOLCS said in its bulletin. 

Voluminous plumes rising up from the crater to 900 meters tall were observed, indicating continuous degassing. The plumes drifted south and southeast.

PHIVOLCS said the volcano's edifice remains inflated.

Alert Level 3 (Intensified Unrest/Magmatic Unrest) remains in effect at Kanlaon Volcano, which straddles the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

The six-kilometer radius from the volcano's summit should remain evacuated, PHIVOLCS said.

Flying aircraft close to the volcano should not be allowed, it added.

PHIVOLCS said Kanlaon Volcano poses possible hazards: sudden explosive eruption, lava flow or effusion, ashfall, pyroclastic density current (PDC), rockfall, and lahars during heavy rains.

On Friday, PHIVOLCS advised residents near Kanlaon Volcano to be vigilant following social media posts of "cohesive and cement-like lahars" that may have been generated by moderate to heavy rainfall in the area. 

Netizens and local officials along the Buhangin River and beneath Hacienda 92 Bridge in Barangay Sag-ang and Ibid Creek in Barangay Biak-na-bato, La Castellana, Negros Occidental reported the occurrence of cohesive and cement-like lahars in their areas.

The rains brought about by the Southwest Monsoon may generate lahars, muddy steamflows or muddy run-off in the rivers draining the Kanlaon Volcano edifice, particularly areas previous affected by lahars, PHIVOLCS said.

"Lahars can threaten communities along the middle and lower slopes with inundation, burial and wash out," it added.

"PHIVOLCS thus strongly recommends increased vigilance and readiness of communities along rivers draining southern Kanlaon. These communities and local government units are advised to continually monitor weather conditions and take pre-emptive response measures when heavy rains, the only early-warning for lahars, are expected or have begun over the upper slopes of Kanlaon Volcano, for their safety," the agency said. —KG, GMA Integrated News