Kanlaon Volcano spews ash anew, causes stress to evacuees

MANILA, Philippines, April 15 ------ The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has reported fresh ash emission from Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island as the volcano remains under Alert Level 3.

According to state volcanologists, the ash emission began yesterday at 11:52 a.m., producing voluminous ash plumes that rose as high as 800 meters from the summit crater. Subsequent ash emission was recorded at 2:53 p.m., producing a dense ash plume that soared approximately 600 meters above the summit crater, according to Phivolcs. “The ash drifted west-northwest of the volcano. Residents of La Carlota City, Bago City, and other nearby towns should expect ashfall,” the agency said.

In the past 24 hours, Phivolcs recorded at least 33 volcanic earthquakes and sulfur dioxide emission at 1,931 tons per day. The agency also noted that the volcano’s edifice remains inflated. Kanlaon first erupted this year on April 8, with previous explosive eruptions recorded on June 3 and Dec. 9 of last year. Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol earlier warned that more eruptions could follow, cautioning the public about the possibility of “highly violent and powerful” explosions, driven by the sudden release of gas and pressure, potentially accompanied by ash and pyroclastic currents.

Amid the ongoing volcanic unrest, the Office of Civil Defense raised concerns about the well-being of affected residents currently sheltered in evacuation centers. OCD administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said at least 2,000 families, or around 8,600 individuals, remain housed in temporary shelters following the April 8 eruption. “The evacuees are experiencing stress inside the evacuation centers. The chief of the municipalities, the mayors, feel the pressure as the residents want to go home,” Nepomuceno said in a radio interview.

The situation in La Carlota, Negros Occidental has grown tense after the local government unit (LGU) decided to postpone municipal festivities due to the eruption, a move that was met with frustration from some residents. “The people were not happy with the decision and we helped the LGU to explain to them that there is a need to focus the resources in the operation of the evacuation center as it is no joke as for one municipality, the expenditure reaches P16 million a month. We hope that the residents will be able to understand,” Nepomuceno said. He also noted that Phivolcs has projected at least three possible scenarios regarding Kanlaon’s activity. “One, there will be a violent eruption; second it will erupt like Mayon Volcano and third, its restiveness will stop but it will still erupt anytime,” Nepomuceno said.

Based on estimates from the OCD, the recent eruption of Kanlaon has caused more than P120 million in agricultural losses in Negros Island, a major vegetable-producing area in the country, which significantly affected the region’s farming communities and local food supply.

Source: philstar.com