By CESAR JOLITO III

The presence of a crater glow at Kanlaon Volcano is not enough to conclude that a hazardous volcanic eruption is imminent, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol issued the clarification following public concern over the visible crater glow observed at Kanlaon in recent days.

In a radio interview, Bacolcol explained that the crater glow only indicates that heat remains high beneath the volcano and does not automatically mean that lava will erupt.

He said the Phivolcs continues to closely monitor the volcano’s activity.

Bacolcol stressed that fears of a possible magmatic eruption cannot be based solely on the appearance of the crater glow.

He said other volcanic parameters must also be evaluated, including volcanic earthquakes, ground deformation, and sulfur dioxide emissions being released by the volcano.

According to Bacolcol, crater glow had already been detected through thermal cameras at Kanlaon as early as 2024, but it only recently became visible to the naked eye.

He also noted that while the crater glow previously appeared faint, it has now turned pinkish.

The phenomenon was observed from 8:44 p.m. to 10:02 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12.

Phivolcs added that the last recorded strombolian activity, or lava emission, at Kanlaon occurred in 1902.

The glow, or “banaag” was first visibly observed by the naked eye around 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 10, through monitoring conducted by the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory.

It was caused by superheated volcanic gas emissions from the volcano’s summit crater.

Phivolcs earlier warned, however, that if the crater glow becomes sustained and intensifies, it could indicate magma nearing or reaching the crater.

Alert Level 2 remains in effect over Kanlaon, but authorities said this may be raised to Alert Level 3 should signs of escalating magmatic activity emerge./CJ, WDJ