By JEN BAYLON
There may be an “overpressurization” at Kanlaon Volcano after a continuous rise of magma towards the volcano’s crater was observed, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
The magma accumulation at Kanlaon is now five kilometers near the crater, Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said based on their monitoring.
Bacolcol said sulfur emissions went down to 1,611 tons per day, but it went up again to 2,183 tons on Sunday, February 9.
This could be interpreted as “a minor explosive eruption,” he said.
As the magma nears its crater, it becomes swollen — an indication that magma is accumulating near the crater, Bacolcol pointed out.
The eastern side of Kanlaon is inflated, and if all sides inflate, it would mean a continuous rise of the magma, he added.
Meanwhile, Bacolcol said three scenarios could happen amid the continuous volcanic activity.
The first scenario could be the slow rise of the magma that could lead to lava flowing out of Kanlaon’s crater with no explosive eruption and with limited damage.
If that happens, Kanlaon will remain at Alert Level 3, Bacolcol said.
The second scenario could be the swift rise of the magma caused by a blocked conduit that could lead to a strong eruption with hazardous pyroclastic density currents.
This could lead to Kanlaon being placed under Alert Level 4, with the danger zone extended to 10 kilometers, he said.
This activity could swiftly end, unlike the first scenario that could last six months, like what happened to Mayon Volcano, Bacolcol said.
The third scenario is the magma will stop moving, and eventually the activity will end.
Kanlaon still remains at Alert Level 3.
Bacolcol called on the residents near Kanlaon to remain vigilant amid the ongoing unrest.
As of Monday, February 10, the Department of Health in Negros Island Region reported that the eruption had affected 8,753 families, composed of 28,638 individuals, in Western and Central Visayas.
Mud flow
The muddy stream flow that recently affected rivers in La Castellana town has subsided following a minor explosive eruption at Kanlaon on February 6.
“The mud flow has stopped because there hasn’t been any more rainfall,” John de Asis, head of the La Castellana Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said.
“On February 6, we experienced effects from the shear line weather system, which included two days of localized thunderstorms. This led to debris from previous ashing activities being mobilized into streams,” De Asis said.
The water flowing through local streams carried ash and debris deposited by Kanlaon’s recent ash emissions towards the Binalbagan River.
However, De Asis assured that sediments did not overflow into rivers.
He also noted that, while there is still some light discoloration or slight murkiness in local water sources, it is significantly clearer compared to past conditions.
“There’s just a light discoloration now,” De Asis said.
“But overall, it’s much clearer than before,” he added./JB, WDJ