Phivolcs raises alert level 2 for Mt. Kanlaon

(Updated 4:35 p.m., Nov. 15, 2017) The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has raised an Alert Level 2 status on Kanlaon Volcano in Negros province, as it warned of a possible “sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.”

In its bulletin issued on Wednesday, Phivolcs explained that Alert Level 2 status means that the volcano is undergoing a moderate level of unrest.

“There is probable intrusion of magma at depth which may or may not lead to a magmatic eruption,” the Phivolcs advisory noted.

Philvolcs then reminded local government units and the public that entry into Mt. Kanlaon’s four-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is strictly prohibited due to further possibilities of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.

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

The agency noted that for the past 24 hours, the volcano’s seismic monitoring network has recorded a total of 279 deep volcanic earthquakes.

The seismic monitoring network of Kanlaon volcano recorded 279 deep volcanic earthquakes for the past 24 hours from Tuesday to Wednesday morning, said Mari-Andylene Quintia of the Phivolcs station in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental province said.

“There were unusual number of volcanic earthquakes until this (Wednesday) morning but they appeared to have simmered down in the afternoon,” she said.

But Quintia said there was no ash emission at the volcano so far.

They could not tell if the volcano would erupt but Phivolcs was closely monitoring the situation, she added.

“Since 18 August 2017, the number of volcanic earthquakes detected per day has continued to increase,”  Phivolcs  said.

“There has been no visible degassing or steaming from the active vent this year, although increased unrest could possibly develop into steam-driven or phreatic eruptions at the summit,” it added.

The local government units and the public have reiterated that entry into the four-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is strictly prohibited due to the further possibilities of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions, it said.

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

Kanlaon Volcano is a centerpiece of Mount Kanlaon Natural Park, a national park located at least 30 km from this city. /kga / jpv