Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island, which has been under Alert Level 3 for two months already, has recorded a significant drop in its sulfur dioxide emission.
Based on the 24-hour observation by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the volcano released at least 1,780 tonnes of sulfur dioxide, lower from 3,186 tonnes last Monday
The number of volcanic quakes decreased from ten on Monday to seven on Tuesday.
Kanlaon’s volcanic plume also reached 100 meters in which continuous degassing was observed. Phivolcs also added that the volcanic plume moved towards the south and southwest direction.
The volcano’s edifice remains inflated, indicating increased pressure due to continuous magma accumulation beneath its surface.
Under Alert Level 3, flying aircraft near Kanlaon’s summit remains prohibited, and evacuating residents within the six-kilometer danger zone is highly recommended.
Ma. Antonia Bornas, the Phivolcs Chief of the Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division said in a video with the Office of Civil Defense that the volcano’s ash emission since its eruption last June 2024 averages at least 5,000 tonnes per day.
“We observed this phenomenon, particularly during its eruptions in June and December, where a precursor decrease in sulfur dioxide occurs.”
Bornas added that a close-vent degassing occurs in which the gassing continues while the pathways of volcanic gasses are blocked which could lead to an eruption or ash emission.
In case of an eruption, the Phivolcs volcanic chief sees two possible scenarios which include a lava flow or lava-fountaining eruption, and a worst-case explosive volcanic eruption.
