The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported Sunday that the Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island released a significant amount of sulfur dioxide on Saturday, prompting authorities to warn of potential lahar flows and expand the danger zone.

It disclosed that the volcano emitted 7,445 tons of sulfur dioxide and recorded eight volcanic earthquakes and observed an obscured plume with edifice inflation, indicating continued unrest.  

To recall, Kanlaon experienced an explosive eruption on 9 December, prompting Phivolcs to raise the alert level to 3, signifying intensified unrest with the possibility of a hazardous eruption within weeks.  

“Magmatic intrusion to shallow levels of the edifice is driving unrest,” said the state seismology bureau in its bulletin. “Hazardous eruption may occur within weeks or even days.”

Possible hazards include sudden explosive eruptions, lava flows, ashfall, pyroclastic density currents, rockfalls, and lahars, especially during heavy rains.  

In response, the danger zone around the volcano’s summit crater was expanded to a six-kilometer radius. However, the Office of Civil Defense in Region 6 said the permanent danger zone might be further expanded to 10 kilometers due to the increased threat of lahar flows.  

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has allocated P60 million in aid for communities affected by the volcano’s activity, with P30 million each for Canlaon City and Negros Oriental Province.

He also directed the Department of Budget and Management to release disaster funds and ordered the Department of Health to monitor the health situation and be on alert for eruption-related illnesses.