The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the ongoing activities of Kanlaon Volcano “do not yet warrant to increase its alert level, contrary to some reports.”

Ma. Antonia Bornas, chief of the Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, said the decline in volcanic emissions, especially sulfur dioxide (SO2), “is only one of the key parameters for monitoring an active volcano.”

There were claims that SO2 emissions from Kanlaon, which recently started to drop, may indicate an imminent explosion.

Phivolcs recorded 1,691 tons of SO2 emissions on January 28, which increased in the next succeeding days.

Kanlaon also had 3,385 tons of SO2 on January 30, with plumes reaching 100 meters from the summit.

Three ash eruptions, lasting 17 to 98 minutes long, and nine volcanic earthquakes, including three volcanic tremors, have been recorded in the past 24 hours.

Alert Level 3 is still hoisted over the volcano.

Bornas pointed out that the Alert Level 4 scenario may be considered if there is rapid volcanic inflation as detected by all their stations, continuing volcanic earthquakes, and fluctuation of SO2 emissions.

She described that the June 3 and December 9, 2024 activities of Kanlaon were “mildly explosive eruptions.”

Earlier, the Office of the Civil Defense was preparing for the worst-case scenario if Alert Level 4 will be declared, as around 100,000 residents would be affected by the eruption.

The establishment of a tent city is now in progress at Himamaylan City for evacuees in La Castellana town.

Meanwhile, the Canlaon City government is looking at Vallehermoso town and surrounding localities in Negros Oriental to shelter its residents who may be affected by the eruption./WDJ