Phivolcs: At least 29 volcanic quakes detected near Mt Kanlaon

by Ellalyn De Vera
December 28, 2015

MT. KANLAON: Negros' Mt. Kanlaon is the highest peak in Central Visayas. (Photo by: Maximus Jovi)

At least 29 volcanic earthquakes were detected by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology's (Phivolcs) near Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Oriental from 8 a.m. Sunday to 8 a.m. Monday. This was accompanied by an ash eruption at around 1:29 p.m. Sunday.

Phivolcs said an ash eruption from the active crater was detected by the seismic network as an explosion-type earthquake that was felt at Intensity 2 in Brgy. Cabagnaan, La Castellana, Sitio Guintubdan, Brgy Ara-al, and Brgy. Yubo, La Carlota City, and Brgy. Ilijan, Bago City, all in Negros Oriental.

The event was accompanied by a rumbling sound heard in Brgy. Cabagnaan, La Castellana, Sitio Guintubdan, Brgy. Ara-al and Brgy. Yubo, La Carlota City.

Phivolcs noted that a visible eruption column that reached 1,000 meters above the active crater before drifting southwest was observed, although this was reported by pilots to have reached 4,500 meters above the summit.

Traces of light ashfall were observed in Sitio Guintubdan, Brgy. Ara-al, Brgy. Yubo, and Brgy. La Granja, La Carlota City, Brgy. Cabagnaan and Brgy. Sag-ang, La Castellana, Brgy. Miranda, Hinigaran in Negros Occidental, and Pontevedra in Negros Occidental, and reached as far as Nueva Valencia, Guimaras.

Sulfuric odor was detected in La Carlota City Volcano Observatory.

Before and after the eruption, background activity consisted of the emission of 50 to 1,000 meter-high steam plumes from the active vent.

Alert Level 1 remains, which means that the volcano is at an abnormal condition and is in a period of current unrest.

Phivolcs continued to warn the concerned local government units and the public from entering the four-kilometer permanent danger zone due to possible sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.

Likewise, civil aviation authorities were also advised to warn pilots from flying close to the volcano's summit as airborne ash from a sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.

http://www.mb.com.ph/phivolcs-at-least-29-volcanic-quakes-detected-near-mt-kanlaon/#lzAyJtS6yVViCq3i.99