Residents near Kanlaon remain calm amid quakes

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Residents of two towns near Kanlaon volcano are unperturbed by the series of quakes.

The towns of La Castellana and Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental are about 30 kilometers from the volcano.

Mayors Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan of La Castellana and Ella Garcia-Yulo of Moises Padilla told Daily Guardian that they are already used to the volcano’s rumblings.

Both mayors said they don’t mind the abnormal activities of the volcano at all.

But they assured that they have contingency measures in place in case of an eruption.

Mangilimutan said they have already identified evacuation centers while Yulo said they have already identified the areas where they can evacuate.

Their respective Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices (DRRMO) are also on alert for any eventuality, the two lady mayors said.

While there was noted decrease in the activity of the volcano, both said they are preparing for any eventuality.

Mangilimutan said Kanlaon volcano last erupted in 1996 though it cannot be considered a major eruption

Since then, the people don’t mind the volcano when it acts up.

Yulo recalled that there was a time when people could see lava flowing from the crater while they were celebrating their fiesta.

Latest bulletin from the PDRRMO indicated that Kanlaon Volcano’s seismic monitoring network recorded 16 volcano-tectonic earthquakes on the western flanks and four volcanic earthquakes in the summit area during the 24-hour observation period.

Moderate emission of white steam-laden plumes that rose 300 meters before drifting northeast and northwest was observed. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission was measured at an average of 116 tonnes/day on 27 June 2020.

Ground deformation data from continuous GPS measurements indicate a slight deflation of the lower and mid slopes since January 2020.

However, short-term electronic tilt monitoring on the southeastern flanks recorded inflation on the lower to mid slopes that began on June 21, 2020. These parameters indicate hydrothermal or magmatic processes occurring beneath the edifice.

Kanlaon Volcano is at Alert Level 1, which means that it is at an abnormal condition and has entered a period of unrest. Local government units and the public are strongly reminded that entry into the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) must be strictly prohibited due to the further possibilities of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions. Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ejecta from any sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.