MANILA, Philippines — Mount Kanlaon in Negros Island is one of the most active volcanoes in the country similar to Mt. Pinatubo in Zambales, Mt. Mayon in Albay, Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon, and Mt. Hibok-Hibok in Camiguin Island. 

Based on the observation of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the volcano has recorded abnormal activities especially last Sunday (June 21) and Monday (June 22).

Earthquakes have been felt as the volcano spewed ashes.

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary and PHIVOLCS OIC Renato Solidum explained these activities may be attributed to an existing fault.

They are now observing if the tremors will move under the summit.

“Itong pagkilos ng fault ay posibleng sanhi dahil sa pag pressurize ng lugar sa Kanlaon volcano ng hydrothermal fluids o pagpapakulo ng tubig o di kaya ay mas malalim pang magmatic activity,” Solidum noted.

Most of the Kanlaon’s explosions were phreatic, the agency observed.

Based on studies of rock samples from the volcano, its last lava episode was in the early 1900’s.

In the 1996 eruption, three persons who went up the volcano died.

Usec. Solidum said Mt. Kanlaon is not comparable with the Taal Volcano when it comes to activities, though a major eruption is possible.

Alert Level 1 has been raised over Mt Kanlaon since March this year.

“Kung ang tanong mo ay mabilis yung escalation, wala tayong nakikitang ganung history sa Kanlaon based on record history (We didn’t have any record of rapid escalation based on Kanlaon’s record in history),” Solidum said. 

“Pero yung posibilidad ng magkaroon ng mas malakas na eruption ay nandoon katulad ng Mayon Volcano; not Taal Volcano, hindi naman sila pareho ng setting (But there is the possibility of a major eruption like with Mount Mayon, but unlike Taal Volcano. Their settings are different),” he added.

PHIVOLCS warned that entering the four-kilometer permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited. MNP (with reports from Rey Pelayo)

Inihahanda na ng pamahalaan ng La Carlota City sa Negros Occidental ang disaster management plan na ipatutupad sakaling lumala ang ipinakikitang abnormalidad ng Mount Kanlaon.

Ayon kay La Carlota City Mayor Rex Jalando-on, nakapaloob sa kanilang plano ang pagtukoy sa mga barangay na lubos na maapektuhan at kailangang ilikas sakaling sumabog ang bulkan o kaya ay mas tumindi pa ang nararanasang pagyanig sa paligid ng bulkan.

Nakapaloob rin sa disaster management plan ang gagamiting logistics, transportation at available resources, pati na ang positioning ng food packs at mga lugar na maaaring gamiting temporary shelter ng mga ililikas na residente.

Tiniyak rin ni Jalando-on na mayroong P10 milyong quick response fund na maaaring gamitin ang lokal na pamahalaan.

Nagsasagawa na rin sila ng kampanya upang paalalahanan ang mga residente na maghanda at maging alerto sa gitna ng nararanasang pagyanig sa kanilang lungsod.

May gagawin ring drill upang malaman ng mga residente ang mga dapat gawin kapag nakaranas ng malakas na lindol o kaya ay sumabog ang bulkan.

Sa ulat ng Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Martes ng umaga, nasa 104 volcanic-tectonic earthquakes ang naitala sa Mount Kanlaon.

Bahagya ring humina ang inilalabas na puting usok ng bulkan na umabot sa taas na 300 metro.

Iniulat rin ng PHIVOLCS ang patuloy na deflation sa ibabang bahagi ng bulkan at inflation o paglobo naman sa gitnang dalisdis na nangangahulugan umano ng hydrothermal o magmatic activity sa ilalim ng lupa.

Muli ring nagpa-alala ang ahensiya na nasa alert level 1 ang Mount Kanlaon na ang ibig sabihin ay nagpapakita ito ng abnormal na aktibidad at nasa “period of unrest.”

Naka-deklarang permanent danger zone ang four-kilometer radius ng bulkan at ipinagbabawal ang pagpasok rito ng mga tao.

Sakop naman ng eight-kilometer radius ng bulkan ang mga Barangay ng Ara-ala at Yubo kaya’t mahigpit itong binabantayan ng lokal na pamahalaan. – RRD (mula sa ulat ni Correspondent Lalaine Moreno)

Residents of Barangay Buso-Buso, Laurel, and Barangay Banyaga in Agoncillo, Batangas were seen sweeping mud from their houses after lahar brought by heavy rainfall flowed into their homes on Sunday (June 7).

Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairman of Barangay Buso-Buso Cyrus Mendoza reported that no one was hurt during the incident and residents have already begun a bayanihan to clean their barangay.

“Habang bumubuhos po ang malakas na ulan ay nakita po namin ang lahar flow na nanggaling sa mga kabundukan sa amin. Pinuntahan po namin ang mga bahay na pinasukan po lahar na ito (While the rain was pouring heavily, we saw the lahar flow from our mountains. We have already visited the houses affected by the lahar flow),” he said.

Both barangays Banyaga and Buso-Buso are in the 7-kilometer danger zone of Taal Volcano.

The lahar came from the ashes brought by the Taal eruption in January. –AAC (with reports from Aris Silvestre)