By JEN BAYLON
Volcanic ash emissions from Kanlaon Volcano have continued in the past days, while sulfuric fumes reached several villages in Negros Occidental’s La Carlota City and La Castellana town over the weekend.
La Carlota Mayor Rex Jalando-on said yesterday he received reports that ash fall and gas fumes were detected in Barangay Ara-al on Sunday, November 3.
Ash fall was also reported in Barangays Yubo, La Granja and Haguimit on Saturday, November 2, according to the monitoring of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Meanwhile, John de Asis, head of the La Castellana Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said thin ash fall was detected in Barangay Robles, while sulfuric fumes reached Barangay Cabagna-an on Sunday afternoon.
De Asis said air quality monitoring machines installed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Robles and Biak na Bato have not detected that air was at hazardous levels.
The two local government units advised their residents to stay inside their houses and wear face masks, especially those with illnesses and senior citizens.
In a bulletin issued yesterday, Phivolcs said Kanlaon logged five volcanic quakes, while an average of 5,177 tons of sulfur dioxide were emitted by the volcano.
Plumes reached 7,350 meters tall, drifting southwest, the advisory said.
Phivolcs recorded 84 volcanic quakes on November 1, and 31 quakes the following day.
Alert Level 2, indicating increasing unrest, prevails over Kanlaon.
However, current seismic activities may lead to eruptive unrest and an increase in the alert level, Phivolcs said.
The unrest could potentially lead to phreatic explosions or steam-driven eruptions, it added.
Phivolcs continues to monitor Kanlaon closely and advises communities within the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone (PDZ) to stay informed and prepared for possible heightened unrest.
“The public is strongly advised to be ready and vigilant, and to avoid entry into the PDZ to minimize risks from volcanic hazards, such as pyroclastic density currents, ballistic projectiles, rockfall, and others,” Phivolcs said.
In case of ash fall events that may affect communities downwind of Kanlaon’s crater, residents should cover their nose and mouth with a damp, clean cloth or dust mask.
“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,” the advisory further said.
Phivolcs advised pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash and ballistic fragments from a sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft./JB, WDJ