MANILA – The alert level for Kanlaon Volcano was escalated to 3, indicating significant magmatic unrest, prompting a warning from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) about potential lahar flows. This alert was issued on Monday, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance.
Phivolcs Deputy Director Mylene Villegas highlighted the risk of lahar during rainfall, urging the implementation of precautionary measures. ‘We need to be prepared because rainfall could trigger lahar from the volcano,’ Villegas stated during a press briefing.
Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol stressed the importance of public readiness and adherence to directives from local government units (LGUs).
An explosive eruption was recorded at Kanlaon’s summit at 3:03 p.m., producing a massive plume that reached a height of 3 kilometers. The eruption, which lasted for nearly 4 minutes, was not preceded by any seismic activity.
Villegas warned that similar brief eruptions could happen within a 6-kilometer radius of the summit in the near future. Consequently, Phivolcs recommended mandatory evacuation within this zone.
Reports of ashfall were received from Bago City, and the barangays of Murcia and La Carlota City in Negros Occidental.
The most hazardous aspect of the eruption was the pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), which flowed down the southeastern slopes of the volcano, affecting the municipality of La Castellana in Negros Occidental.
On the same day, sulfur dioxide emissions averaged 4,638 tons, a decrease from the peak of 11,556 tons recorded on September 11 of the previous year.
Aviation authorities have been advised to caution pilots against flying near the summit of Kanlaon Volcano.