Kanlaon spews ash anew

MANILA, Philippines — Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island Region showed increased activity yesterday morning, spewing grayish ash plumes that rose 600 meters above the summit.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the ash emmision occurred at 7:04 a.m. and lasted an hour and 37 minutes before drifting northwest and west.

Aside from the ash emission, state volcanologists detected nine volcanic earthquakes including two tremors lasting 14 to 18 minutes.

The volcano has been under Alert Level 2 or increased unrest since July last year.

Entry into the four-kilometer-radius permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited due to the possibility of a sudden eruption and rockfalls.

Meanwhile, Mayon Volcano in Albay discharged lava that flowed toward the gullies of Basud at 3.8 kilometers, Bonga at 3.2 and Mi-isi at 1.8 kilometers.

Phivolcs said there were 362 rockfall events and four pyroclastic density currents recorded at Mayon in the past 24 hours.

Episodic minor strombolian activity was observed at the volcano, with moderate plumes rising 750 meters above the crater and drifting southwest, west and west-northwest.

Mayon emitted 1,452 tons of sulfur dioxide on Friday, Phivolcs said.

The volcano remains under Alert Level 3 or magmatic unrest.