Kanlaon Volcano, located in Negros Island, has experienced increased chances of eruptive activity, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
In an advisory issued early morning on Monday, Phivolcs said Mount Kanlaon’s edifice is inflated.
Alert Level 2 is maintained since Kanlaon Volcano’s “moderately explosive eruption” that lasted six minutes on June 3 at 6:51 p.m.
“This is a notice of ongoing increased ground deformation changes at Kanlaon Volcano,” the Department of Science and Technology-Phivolcs advisory read.
“Considering that volcanic earthquake activity and elevated volcanic sulfur dioxide emission persists, the latest changes in ground deformation parameters could further indicate that magmatic intrusion beneath the edifice may be taking place, warning of increased chances of eruptive activity taking place,” it said.
“This means there is current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes that could eventually lead to explosive eruptions or even precede hazardous magmatic eruption at the summit crater,” it warned.
The public is strongly advised to stay vigilant and avoid entry into the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone to minimize risks from volcanic hazards, such as pyroclastic density currents, ballistic projectiles, rockfall and others.
“In case of ash fall events that may affect communities downwind of Kanlaon’s crater, people should cover their nose and mouth with a damp, clean cloth or dust mask,” Phivolcs said.
Flying close to the volcano’s summit is prohibited due to possible ash and ballistic fragments from sudden eruption.
“Communities living beside river systems on the southern and western slopes, especially those that have already experienced lahars and muddy streamflows, are advised to take precautionary measures when heavy rainfall over the volcano has been forecast or has begun,” Phivolcs stressed.
