Kanlaon Volcano showing signs of activity

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) is monitoring Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island after it recorded 136 volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours.

In a bulletin issued at 8 a.m. yesterday, Phivolcs said the quakes, with magnitudes ranging from 3.2 to 4.7, were recorded on the western flanks of the volcano.

The temblors were felt at Intensities 2 to 5 in La Carlota and Bago City, both in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.

The volcano remains at Alert Level 1, which means it is at “an abnormal condition and has entered a period of unrest,” Phivolcs said.

Entry within the four-kilometer-radius permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited due to the possibility of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.

Pilots were advised to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.

Phivolcs recorded at least two phreatic or steam-driven eruptions of Kanlaon in December 2017.

In a separate bulletin, Phivolcs said a magnitude-4.7 volcanic-tectonic temblor occurred 16 kilometers northeast of La Carlota City at 2:06 a.m.

It was felt at Intensity 4 in La Carlota , Intensity 3 in Bago City and Bacolod City, and Intensity 2 in Canlaon City.

It was followed by a magnitude-2.5 tectonic quake at 5:07 a.m.

The epicenter of the second quake was located 13 km northeast of La Carlota City. Gilbert Bayoran