By Brian Campued
Face-to-face classes in La Carlota City in Negros Occidental has been suspended as Kanlaon Volcano erupted on Tuesday morning, according to the city government.
In a Facebook post, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that an “explosive eruption” occurred at the summit vent of Kanlaon Volcano at 5:51 a.m. and ended at 6:47 a.m.
The eruption produced a “voluminous bent plume approximately 4,000 meters tall” that drifted southwest and pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) which descended on the volcano’s “general southern edifice.”
Ashfall was reported at Barangays Cubay, San Miguel, and La Granja in La Carlota City, the agency said.
In an interview at Balitang Pambansa, Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol warned residents that the possibility of further eruptions are not ruled out as Alert Level 3 remains in effect.
“’Yong magnitude ng eruption kanina is the same as what we have experienced last Dec. 9 when we raised it to Alert Level 3,” Bacolcol said.
According to Phivolcs, Alert Level 3 signifies that magma is “near or at the surface” of the volcano which could lead to hazardous eruptions in the coming weeks.
Bacolcol, likewise, said that the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone would be maintained.
Meanwhile, the local governments of both La Carlota City and Canlaon City have ordered the suspension of entry to the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone following the eruption.
-iro