A WEEK after the explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said it was still too early to decide if the volcano’s alert status will be downgraded or upgraded.
Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said the monitoring parameters have been fluctuating since the December 9 eruption of Kanlaon that prompted the agency to place the volcano under Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest), from Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest).
Bacolcol said the volcano’s sulfur dioxide emission on Sunday was measured at 6,535 tons, from 3,620 tons the previous day.
Twelve volcanic earthquakes were recorded on Sunday, compared to 14 last Saturday.
“Our earthquakes from 12 midnight to noon today (Monday), it’s already at 28 so it’s quite high,” said Bacolcol.
Asked if the volcano’s activities were waning since its eruption, Bacolcol said, “We cannot yet say. Its sulfur dioxide emission yesterday was more than 6,000. We cannot yet say if its waning because it increased. Last December 14 (Saturday), its 3,600 tons, yesterday (Sunday) it was 6,535 tons.”
Bacolcol said Phivolcs is assessing the activities of the volcano on a “day to day basis.”
“It’s just one week since it erupted. (We’re looking) into the data. It’s hard for now to say whether we’re going to downgrade or upgrade (Kanlaon’s alert status),” he said.
Bacolcol said the volcano remains under Alert Level 3 which he said means “hazardous eruption is possible within weeks.”
The eruption prompted authorities to evacuate people within the extended six-kilometer radius danger zone.
On Sunday night, the Task Force Kanlaon said the evacuation of those inside the danger zone was “mandatory.”
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 10,784 families or 43,970 individuals have been affected as of yesterday.
Of the number, 4,278 families or 13,748 individuals were displaced and are currently staying inside 27 evacuation centers, the NDRRMC said.
Also displaced were 694 families or 2,366 individuals who are staying with their relatives and friends.
