The Office of Civil Defense in Western Visayas (OCD-6) said the rise in sulfur dioxide emissions at Kanlaon Volcano is a sign that it may be gearing up for a bigger and maybe a deadly eruption.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has observed “a gradual and slow magma” rising inside the volcano, OCD-6 director Raul Fernandez said.

The alert level at the volcano may be raised to Level 4 if the situation escalates, he added.

Fernandez said they are preparing for the worst but “hoping it won’t happen.”

Phivolcs, in its latest bulletin, reported that Kanlaon had 23 volcanic earthquakes and several ashing events on Saturday, January 4.

Three volcanic tremors lasting four to 111 minutes long were also recorded, Phivolcs said.

The volcano also emitted 3,469 tons of sulfur dioxide, and had ash emission events that lasted 111 minutes, the agency added.

Voluminous plumes rising up to 500 meters tall were also recorded on Saturday, indicating continuous degassing.

Its plume was described as moderate, rising 750 meters high and drifting northwest and west, as continuous degassing was observed.

Kanlaon’s edifice has been inflated, Phivolcs said.

Alert Level 3, signifying intensified unrest, remained in effect at Kanlaon.

The heightened alert level was hoisted after the volcano had an explosive eruption on December 9, 2024, which has displaced thousands of residents from numerous communities.

Under Alert Level 3, magmatic intrusion to shallow levels of the edifice is driving unrest, with indications that a hazardous eruption may occur in weeks.

Possible hazards from the volcano include sudden explosive eruption, lava flow or effusion, ashfall, pyroclastic density current, rockfall, and lahars during heavy rains. / With reports from GMA Integrated News / WDJ