THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded six volcanic quakes at Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island on Sunday, the fewest since the volcano’s “violent eruption” on June 3.
Sulfur dioxide emission was also down, with only 3,304 tons compared to the from 4,377 Kanlaon Volcano emitted the previous day, Phivolcs said in a bulletin.
Data from Phivolcs showed 43 volcanic earthquakes at Kanlaon on June 3; 53 on June 4; 27 on June 5; 14 on June 6; 19 on June 7, and 17 last Saturday.
Kanlaon Volcano’s 3,304 sulfur dioxide emission last Sunday is the fourth highest since the June 3 eruption.
The volcano emitted 797 tons of sulfur dioxide on June 3; 4,113 tons on June 4; 3,464 tons on June 5; 1,412 tons on June 6; 1,412 tons on June 7; and 4,397 tons last Saturday.
Phivolcs said the volcano’s continuing gas emission generated a 300-meter-tall plume that drifted northeast.
The volcano’s edifice remains inflated, the agency said.
Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest) remains hoisted over Kanlaon Volcano. The volcano’s alert status was raised to Alert Level 2 from Alert Level 1 (abnormal) following the June 3 eruption.
Phivolcs is discouraging residents from entering the four-kilometer permanent danger zone, and aircraft from flying near the volcano due to potential risks.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Kanlaon’s unrest has affected 8,479 families or 29,137 individuals in the Western Visayas and Central Visayas regions as of yesterday.
Of the number, 1,729 persons or 5,961 individuals were displaced, the NDRRC said.
However, the number was down to 1,339 families or 4,752 individuals as of yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense said a water filtration truck has been deployed to Negros Oriental to provide clean water to those affected by the calamity.
“Water contamination by the volcanic ashfall is being experienced in various areas in Negros Occidental,” the OCD said in a statement.
The water filtration truck, which arrived in the province yesterday along with a rapid deployment team, will provide services to evacuees in La Carlota City and in the municipality of La Castellana.
The OCD said the truck and the personnel will be in the province for two weeks.
“The water filtration equipment can produce 50,000 liters of water per day to serve the population affected by the Kanlaon eruption,” the OCD said.
