By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) has advised the public not to enter the four-kilometer permanent danger zone around Kanlaon volcano.

PDMPD head, Dr. Zeaphard Caelian, said the residents near Kanlaon volcano must remain on alert because of abnormal activities and volcanic quakes monitored by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Hiking and other related activities near the volcano is highly prohibited this time, Caelian pointed out.

Phivolcs has maintained Alert Level 1 status of the volcano.

Based on Phivolcs’ January 26 monitoring, the agency reported eight volcanic earthquakes with 138 tonnes per day of sulfur dioxide flux on January 22.

Volcanologists also noted a weak steam-laden plume rising 100 meters high and drifting to the southeast and the southwest from the crater.

Kanlaon’s edifice also remains inflated and volcanologists also observed movement of the ground in the volcano./DGB, WDJ