Kanlaon Volcano shows increase in seismic activity
Published Jul 21, 2023 05:33 am
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has monitored an increase in seismic activity at Kanlaon Volcano in the past 24 hours.
In a bulletin issued at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 21, Phivolcs said 35 volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes have been recorded by the Kanlaon Volcano Network between 10 p.m. on July 20 and 9:06 a.m. on July 21.
“These earthquakes ranged in energy from magnitude 0.9 to magnitude 2.3 and occurred at depths of 12 to 15 kilometers beneath the summit crater,” it said.
Kanlaon Volcano (Manila Bulletin File Photo)
Kanlaon’s volcanic sulfur dioxide emission averaged 786 tons on July 18 July, which is slightly higher than the average emission of 566 tons per day since March 2023. “While monitoring parameters in the past months have been consistent with shallow hydrothermal activity driven by degassing of deeper magma, the ongoing VT earthquake activity indicates that fracturing at deeper levels is occurring and may possibly lead to further unrest,” Phivolcs pointed out It said that despite the increase in activity, Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 1, which means it is at “low-level” unrest. However, if the uptrend in monitoring parameters persists, Phivolcs said the volcano’s status may be raised to Alert Level 2 to indicate an increasing unrest. Due to an increased likelihood of sudden and hazardous phreatic eruptions occurring without warning, the public and local government units are strongly advised to exercise caution and avoid entering the four-kilometer permanent danger zone. Civil aviation authorities are also asked to advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ejecta from any sudden phreatic eruption may be dangerous to aircraft.
Kanlaon Volcano (Manila Bulletin File Photo)
Kanlaon’s volcanic sulfur dioxide emission averaged 786 tons on July 18 July, which is slightly higher than the average emission of 566 tons per day since March 2023. “While monitoring parameters in the past months have been consistent with shallow hydrothermal activity driven by degassing of deeper magma, the ongoing VT earthquake activity indicates that fracturing at deeper levels is occurring and may possibly lead to further unrest,” Phivolcs pointed out It said that despite the increase in activity, Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 1, which means it is at “low-level” unrest. However, if the uptrend in monitoring parameters persists, Phivolcs said the volcano’s status may be raised to Alert Level 2 to indicate an increasing unrest. Due to an increased likelihood of sudden and hazardous phreatic eruptions occurring without warning, the public and local government units are strongly advised to exercise caution and avoid entering the four-kilometer permanent danger zone. Civil aviation authorities are also asked to advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ejecta from any sudden phreatic eruption may be dangerous to aircraft.