Kanlaon Volcano explodes

BACOLOD CITY—Kanlaon Volcano exploded for 30 minutes beginning at 9:30 p.m. on Monday, prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to raise the alert level over the volcano at 6:55 a.m. Tuesday.

The explosion, recorded by the Kanlaon Volcano seismic network, produced a 1.0- to 1.5-kilometer-high plume above the summit before drifting toward the southwest, Phivolcs said.

A rumbling sound was heard in Sitio Mananawin and Sitio Upper Pantao, Barangay Pula, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental province, Phivolcs said.

Only four volcanic earthquakes have been recorded during the past week by the Kanlaon network, but after the explosion, the network recorded a volcanic tremor that lasted five hours, it said.

Continuous emission of steam with minor ash from the crater has been observed Tuesday morning, Phivolcs said.

Phivolcs said Alert Level 1 meant that Kanlaon Volcano was at an abnormal condition and had entered a period of unrest.

The local governments and the public are strictly reminded that entry into the 4-km radius permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited due to the further possibilities of sudden and hazardous eruptions, it said.

Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ejects from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft, Phivolcs said.

All trekking at Mount Kanlaon was halted effective Tuesday and attempts were being made to locate a female Polish trekker who began her climb of the volcano on Monday and has not returned, said Dennis Pinosa,

Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park Protected Areas superintendent.

Ana Hodson, who is in her 40s, and a trained guide identified as Valmer Villar were supposed to have begun their trek to the Kanlaon crater on Monday and were expected back tomorrow.

Pinosa said attempts to reach the two on the phone had failed and a group of guides were being organized to search for the two if they fail to return by tomorrow.

Zephard Gerhart Caelian, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division chief, said disaster risk management groups of towns and cities around the volcano had also been instructed to be vigilant.