One of the country’s most active volcanoes located on Negros island in the Visayas has erupted, prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to raise the Alert Level 1 status because it has reached a “level of unrest”.
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On Wednesday morning, moderate emission of dirty white steam and ash plumes that rose up to 150 meter high above the summit crater before drifting to the southwest was observed, Phivolcs said.
Phreatic eruptions are “steam-driven explosions that occur when water beneath the ground or on the surface is heated by magma, lava, hot rocks, or new volcanic deposits”, according to the US Geological Survey.
Solidum also explained that minor tremors occurring from Mount Kanlaon indicate “continuous movement on the volcano and most likely it is related to the steam that is actually moving near the shallow part of the volcano near the crater”.
Phivolcs said that only 4 volcanic earthquakes had been recorded during the past week by the Kanlaon network, but after the explosion, the network recorded volcanic tremor that lasted for 5 hours.
The Notam stated that airplanes are advised not to fly near the vicinity of the volcano because of the possible hazzard or phreatic eruption.
It also said that civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit.
According to CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio, the NOTAM will take effect until 9 a.m. Thursday and may still be extended depending on the volcano’s behavior as well as the Phivolcs advisory.
Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, chief of Provincial Disaster Management Program Division, said they are also closely monitoring the activities of the volcano.
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“With the alert level, the local governments and residents should stay away from the volcano, should review their preparedness plan”.
