Weak tremors, quiet degassing observed at Kanlaon after eruption

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said on Tuesday that Mount Kanlaon exhibited quiet degassing and weak low frequency volcanic earthquakes a day after erupting.

Ma. Antonia Bornas, chief of PHIVOLCS' volcano monitoring and eruption prediction division, reported that the agency recorded 81 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes and two volcanic tectonic earthquakes since Monday's “explosive eruption.”

Kanlaon, a volcano on Negros island, ejected a five-kilometer plume of ash, gas, and rocks into the sky on Monday evening. 

“After the eruption last night, we saw intense degassing from Kanlaon’s crater that waned only this morning,” Bornas said. 

Bornas outlined three possible scenarios for the future activity of Kanlaon

Alert Level 2, indicating increasing unrest, may be maintained if:

PHIVOLCS may raise Alert Level 3, signifying high level of unrest, if: 

The agency may downgrade the alert level over Kanlaon to 1 if:

“Whatever happens, it is likely that there will be phreatic or similar explosive events because that is the nature of Kanlaon. More often than not, there is something that follows,” Bornas said partly in Filipino. 

PHIVOLCS advised the public to avoid the PDZ to minimize risks from sudden explosions, rockfall, and landslides as there could be “further explosive eruptions or even hazardous magmatic eruption.”

It also said that pilots should avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft. 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday that PHIVOLCS, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are on top of the situation. 

He added that the government has provided assistance to affected residents. Nearly 800 people fled their homes following the eruption. 

Marcos also called on residents, especially those near Kanlaon, to remain vigilant and follow guidelines set by local authorities.

Kanlaon is one of the 24 active volcanoes in the archipelago.