Phivolcs warns of false info on Kanlaon

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Updates on the abnormal condition of Mt. Kanlaon should be verified with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PMPD) of Negros Occidental has advised Negrenses.

Zephard Gerhart Caelian, PMPD head, cited a photo posted on social media on Monday purportedly showing Mt. Kanlaon’s explosive ash burst. It turned out the photo was from the eruption of Mt. Sinabung in Sumatra, Indonesia in 2013.

“Such mistake created panic... we should avoid that. We should always check and rely on the advisory of Phivolcs,” Caelian said.

He said based on PMPD’s monitoring, Philvolcs recorded 29 volcanic quakes after Mt. Kanlaon spewed ash that reached 1,000 meters above the summit on Sunday.

A rumbling sound that accompanied the eruption was heard in Barangays Cabagnaan, La Castellana and Yubo and Sitio Guintubnan in Barangay Ara-al in La Carlota City.

Traces of ash were also monitored in Sitio Guintubnan, Barangay Ara-al and Barangay La Granja in La Carlota City and Pontevedra town.