Kanlaon quakes persist at Alert 3

Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island recorded four volcanic earthquakes, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcano and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Sunday. 

In its latest bulletin issued by Phivolcs, Kanlaon emitted 3,380 tonnes of sulfur dioxide as of Wednesday, 16 July, with is edifice still inflated, indicating continued gas-build up and plumes obscured by clouds.

Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 3 or intensified magmatic unrest. 

Phivolcs advised that the six-kilometer radius from the volcano should remain evacuated.

Residents are also advised to be alert of hazards including sudden explosive eruption, lava flow, ashfall, pyroclastic density current, rockfall, and lahars during heavy rains. 

As of 20 July, Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Disaster Response Operations, Management, Information, and Communication reported that Kanlaon’s ongoing unrest has affected a total of 24,596 families or 94,737 individuals across 30 barangays.

Meanwhile, 5,214 houses have been damaged.