PHREATIC ERUPTION OF MT. KANLAON, ALERT LEVEL 2 IS RAISED

Alert Level 2 was raised on Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island after a phreatic eruption was recorded on Monday evening. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), it erupted 6:50 p.m. and the volcanic plume reached 5,000 meters high.

Mt. Kanlaon erupted on Monday and raised to Alert Level 2 (Photo courtesy of Ethan Asentista-Khoo/Inquirer)

According to Engr. Mari Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist at the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory, "Our volcano, it releases hot materials. These hot materials seem to come closer to each other. They are driven upward, this powerful energy. So, the friction between these hot materials could cause incandescence in our volcano."  

The eruption lasted for six minutes, followed by volcanic earthquakes with reports of ashfall and sulfurous odors in communities. Earthquake activities has been existing on Kanlaon for the past months and degassing anomalous SO2 with an average of 1,273 tones per day this year according to Phivolcs.

All residents within the danger zone from Barangay Masulog, Pula, Lumapao, and Malaiba were evacuated including their livestock.

The Nino Aquino International Airport announced the canceled flights due to the volcanic activity of Mt. Kanlaon.

Cebu Pacific (5J): 5J 473/474: Manila–Bacolod-Manila, 5J 451/452: Manila –Iloilo–Manila, 5J 453/454 Manila-Iloilo-Manila, 5J 476 Bacolod-Manila, 5J 464 Iloilo-Manila, and 5J 454 Iloilo-Manila.

AirAsia (Z2): Z2 761/762: Manila-Cebu-Manila, Z2 603/604: Manila-Bacolod-Manila, and Z2 306/307: Manila-Iloilo-Manila.

PAL Express (2P): 2P 2841/2842 Manila-Cebu-Manila, 2P 2139/2140 Manila-Iloilo-Manila, and 2P 2835 Manila-Cebu.

Phivolcs said that, “there is current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes that could eventually lead to further explosive eruptions or even precede hazardous magmatic eruption. The public is strongly advised to be vigilant and avoid the four (4) kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) to minimize risks from sudden explosions, rockfall and landslides."

Source: ABS-CBN News

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