Kanlaon volcano spews ash plumes 3 times on Saturday (Oct. 19)

Kanlaon Volcano in Negros — File photo by RICHARD MALIHAN/CONTRIBUTOR

MANILA, Philippines — Kanlaon volcano on Negros island briefly spewed light-gray ash plumes thrice on Saturday morning (October 19).

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded three “ashing” events at 6:41 a.m., 7:01 a.m and 8:01 a.m.

These emissions lasted two to six minutes.

The plumes reached up to about 500 meters above the crater before drifting southwest.

“Volcanic ash in the degassing plume signifies open vent conditions in which volcanic gas can carry fine debris from fractured rock or even from the margins of shallow magma beneath the edifice,” Phivolcs said in a report.

Traces of ash were reported in Barangays Yubo and Ara-al in La Carlota City; and in Barangay Sag-ang in La Castellana town.

Sulfurous fumes were also seen in Barangay Yubo.

According to Phivolcs, the summit crater on Kanlaon volcano emitted 2,769 tons of sulfur dioxide on Friday (October 18).

This volume is lower than the average of 4,133 tons per day since its eruption last June 3.

Twelve volcanic earthquakes were also recorded.

Phivolcs maintained Alert Level 2 over the volcano and it reiterated its warning to the public to keep out of the four-kilometer radius danger zone.