Phivolcs declares alert level status on 4 volcanoes

After a series of volcanic activities, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOCS) has issued alert levels on four volcanoes in the islands of Luzon and Visayas, released through a summary of the latest volcanic activity observed from Oct. 26 to 27.

Alert Level 2 was maintained in Mount Kanlaon in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, while Alert Level 1 remained in Mount Mayon in Albay, Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon, and Mount Taal in Batangas.

Volcanic activity updates as of October 27 

On Friday, Kanlaon volcano ‘moderately’ erupted for three minutes from 8:05 p.m., according to the PHIVOCS bulletin.

Five volcanic earthquakes were recorded, along with a sulfur dioxide flux of 2,266 tonnes, a 75-meter-tall southwest-bounded plume emission, and an inflated volcano edifice.

Ashfall was observed in areas of Bago City, La Carlota City, Pontevedra, La Castellana in Negros Occidental, and in Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.

PHIVOCS warned of possible hazards such as sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions and precursory magmatic activity, maintaining Kanlaon at Alert level 2.

While PHIVOCS announces Mayon Volcano under Alert level 1 today, noting one volcanic earthquake, an obscured view of the volcano due to clouds, 590 tonnes of sulfur dioxide flux (the highest recorded on Oct.  6), a west-bound moderate plume emission, and an inflated volcano edifice.

The agency cautioned of possible hazards such as sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions, rockfalls, landslides, avalanches, and lahars during heavy and prolonged rainfall.

Similarly, the same alert level on Bulusan Volcano was declared, recording 17 volcanic earthquakes, 143 tonnes of sulfur dioxide flux (the highest recorded on Oct.16), an obscured view of the volcano due to clouds, and an inflated volcano edifice.

PHIVOCS warns of possible hazards such as sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.

As for Taal Volcano, one minor phreatic eruption, two phreatomagmatic events (1-4 minutes long), 33 volcanic earthquakes, 436 tonnes of sulfur dioxide flux (the highest recorded on October 25), a 2,100-meter-tall southwest-bounded voluminous plume emission, and a short-term inflation of Taal Volcano Island were recorded.

PHIVOCS cautioned of possible hazards such as sudden steam-driven or phreatic/gas-driven eruptions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulation of volcanic gas.

Recommended action by PHIVOCS

PHIVOCS recommends that communities residing along the 4 km-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) evacuate and remain evacuated until further notice. 

Furthermore, entry without vigilance into the Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) and flying over any aircraft close to the volcanoes is discouraged.