MANILA: The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Saturday called for continued public vigilance as the Kanlaon Volcano has exhibited increased activity, marked by ash emissions and degassing.
According to Philippines News Agency, Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol explained that while degassing is a normal occurrence in an active volcano, the increased activity of Mt. Kanlaon warrants close monitoring. “This [degassing] doesn’t always mean an eruption is coming, but it shows the volcano is restless and needs to be closely watched for signs of more activity,” Bacolcol stated. Degassing involves the release of gases such as sulfur dioxide from magma beneath the surface, escaping through the volcano’s cracks.
Phivolcs has recorded brief episodes of gray ash discharge from continuous degassing at Kanlaon’s summit crater. The events, observed at 6:41, 7:01, and 8:01 a.m., lasted between two to six minutes but did not produce detectable seismic or infrasound signals. However, the acti
vity generated light-gray plumes that extended 500 meters above the crater, with traces of ash reported in the villages of Yubo and Ara-al in La Carlota City and Sag-ang in La Castellana town. Residents of Barangay Yubo also reported experiencing sulfurous fumes.
The volcanic ash in the degassing plume signifies open vent conditions, where volcanic gas can transport fine debris from fractured rock or shallow magma margins beneath the edifice, as detailed in a Phivolcs advisory. With Alert Level 2 indicating increasing unrest over Kanlaon, there is potential for eruptive unrest and an increase in the alert level.
Bacolcol emphasized the importance of vigilance for those living around Kanlaon Volcano and urged adherence to the no-entry restriction within the four-kilometer permanent danger zone to ensure safety.