Kanlaon danger zone entry suspended anew

BACOLOD, Philippines — Entry to the six-kilometer extended danger zone in Kanlaon will be suspended starting today as the volcano showed “alarming” activities and signs of another eruption.

In an advisory issued yesterday, the Regional Task Force Kanlaon said the suspension will “remain in effect until further notice.”

Previously, farmers and residents were allowed to enter the zone from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. to carry out their activities.

However, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported 67 volcanic quakes and sulfur dioxide emissions of 75 tons per day, as of Sunday.

A continuous degassing that produced a 950-meter high plume drifting north-northeast was also observed.

Donato Sermeno III, Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region chief, raised the possibility that the volcanic activities will be a precursor to another eruption as he cited experiences in two previous eruptions of Kanlaon Volcano.

Sermeno described as “alarming” the occurrence of 67 quakes at Kanlaon, noting that the number of quakes was the highest recorded.

According to Phivolcs, the plugging of the volcanic conduit and weakening of SO2 emission and degassing leads to a pressure build-up, which may trigger explosions. Alert Level 3 remains over Kanlaon Volcano.

The government earlier ordered more than 3,000 evacuees to vacate the schools that were used as evacuation centers since last year to give way to the opening of classes. Some of the evacuees were also allowed to return to their homes.