By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) monitored a spike in volcanic earthquakes during Kanlaon’s unrest over the past few days.

In a 24-hour period, from August 13 to 14, Phivolcs recorded 11 volcanic earthquakes, and an additional 18 were logged yesterday morning.

Phivolcs only monitored two volcanic quakes over the weekend.

As of August 13, sulfur dioxide emission is at 566 tonnes per day, and ground deformation data continues to show that Kanlaon’s edifice remains inflated.

The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Management Program Division said Kanlaon Volcano continues to remain under Alert Level 1.

The entry inside the four-kilometer permanent danger zone is prohibited due to possible sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.

Earlier this month, Phivolcs Science Research Specialist II, Dr. Raymund Patrick Maximo said despite the uptick in activity around Kanlaon, it can still be considered as “normal.”

Kanlaon is a stratovolcano, the highest mountain on Negros island and in the Visayas, with an elevation of 2,465 meters, or 8,087 feet, above sea level./DGB, WDJ