By Nanette Guadalquiver | Philippine News Agency
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) hoisted Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest) over Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island after its explosive eruption at the summit vent at 3:03 p.m. Monday.
“The eruption produced a voluminous plume that rapidly rose 3,000 meters above the vent and drifted west-southwest. Pyroclastic density currents descended the slopes on the general southeastern edifice based on IP (internet protocol) and thermal camera monitors,” Phivolcs said in its latest bulletin.
The latest eruption came six months after a similar eruption on June 3, which placed the active volcano on Alert 2 (increasing unrest) and displaced more than 9,000 families from 18 villages in the five affected local government units—the cities of Bago and La Carlota and the municipalities of La Castellana, Moises Padilla, and Pontevedra in Negros Occidental.
Phivolcs said Alert Level 3 “means magmatic eruption has begun that may progress to further explosive eruptions.”
“All local government units are advised to evacuate the six-kilometer radius from the summit of the volcano and must be prepared for additional evacuation if activity warrants,” it added.
In Bago City, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office advised residents of all barangays near Mt. Kanlaon to stay indoors.
On Dec. 6, six ash emissions events were logged from the volcano’s crater, according to the Phivolcs’ bulletin over the weekend.
Phivolcs recorded ash emissions in the past months, including in November.
Residents in villages near the foot of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Occidental were advised to wear masks for protection.
In recent weeks, ashfall was reported in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia, while traces of ash were reported, and sulfurous fumes were experienced in Barangay Yubo, La Carlota City, and Barangay Sag-ang, La Castellana.
On Nov. 7, tourism employees assigned at the Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center in Barangay Ilijan, Bago City, were instructed not to report to work due to the strong sulfur smell and thin ashfall.