Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island – Phreatic Explosion

Kanlaon Volcano isn’t quiet. This morning around 9:19 a.m. it erupted in a phreatic explosion and spat ashes up to 1,500 meters.

Kanlaon Volcano is under alert level 1. It’s activity is not violent but threatening. This morning a phreatic explosion spew an ash-cloud up to 1,500 meters. A week ago, Sorsogon’s Bulusan volacano had a similar eruption.

PHIVOLCS said the phreatic explosion occurred at 9:19 a.m. and lasted until 9:46 a.m. The 27-minute eruption produced a 400 to 1,500-meter grayish-white ash plume.
“So far, wala tayong nakikita (na magma), but hindi naman tayo tumitigil na mag-monitor,” PHIVOLCS director Renato Solidum told to journalists.

The ash fall may affect villages west northwest of the volcano. According to Solidum, they have received reports that the villages of San Miguel, Guintubdan and Ara-al in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental were affected by the ash fall.

Photo courtesy of www.earth-of-fire.com

Kanlaon Volcano – PHIVOLCS Statement

A series of steam and ash eruption events occurred from the active crater of Kanlaon Volcano starting 09:19 AM and lasted for around 27 minutes based on visual observations. The first event was a steam and ash explosion that produced a light gray to white steam plume that rose to about 1,500 m and later lofted to about 3 km above the summit. This was followed immediately by an ash eruption event, which produced a thick, black, ash plume that rose to about 500 m. The third event was characterized by emission of grayish ash plume that rose to about 500 m. Light ashfall was reported at the western slopes of the volcano in Brgy. Ara-al, Brgy. San Miguel and Brgy. Yubo, La Carlota City, Brgy. Sag-ang, La Castellana, and Brgy. Ilijan, Bago City, Negros Occidental. Light sulfuric odor was detected in Brgy. Ara-al, La Carlota City.

Alert Level 1 status remains in effect over Kanlaon Volcano, which means that it is at an abnormal condition and is in a period of current unrest. The local government units and the public are reminded that entry into the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is strictly prohibited due to the 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 airborne ash from a sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft. DOST-PHIVOLCS is closely monitoring Kanlaon Volcano’s activity and any new development will be relayed to all concerned.

[GARD]