CEBU CITY – Air quality in Cebu and Negros Oriental provinces remains safe even after the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on Tuesday morning, April 8.
Following the eruption, the Environmental Management Bureau-Central Visayas (EMB-7) monitored sulfur dioxide (SO2) and two types of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) which are common air pollutants during volcanic eruptions.
These pollutants can cause respiratory problems.
Monitoring station was mounted in Barangay Mabigo, Canlaon City, just 10 kilometers from the volcano’s crater.
Examination showed “good” air quality for all pollutants measured at 8 a.m., about two hours after the eruption ended.
A separate monitoring was also conducted in Toledo City and Mandaue City in Cebu, which are 49 and 85 kilometers away from the volcano, respectively.
The EMB-7 found out that air quality in Toledo and Mandaue remain “good” with no immediate risk to the public.
The agency noted that wind patterns indicated that ash and gas from the eruption were mostly blown to the southwest.
With the wind patterns, areas most likely to be affected by ash fall are in western Negros and not Cebu.
The bureau will continue to monitor air quality in the coming days as the volcano remains active.