MANILA – There is no indication yet that magma is rising from beneath the edifice to the main crater of the Kanlaon Volcano despite recent earthquakes, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
PHIVOLCS Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Renato Solidum Jr. said in a radio interview that the recent earthquakes were recorded only at the base of the Kanlaon and not yet under the edifice to the crater of the volcano.
“Hindi pa ito ‘yung mga lindol na nagpapahiwatig sa atin na umaakyat na magma,” Solidum said in an interview with DZBB. “‘Yung pagsabog na may magmang lalabas, wala pa tayong senyales.”
Solidum also noted that the recent earthquakes in Kanlaon were due to the movement of faults at the base of the volcano.
“Ang paglindol o pagkilos ng fault sa paanan ay posibleng dulot ng pressurization dahil may pagpapakulo ng tubig, manifested nga ng moderate steaming o ‘di kaya magma activity na napakalalim pa,” he said.
Based on the latest report by PHIVOLCS on Friday, a total of 25 volcano tectonic earthquakes were recorded from the western flanks of Negros Island-based volcano in the last 24 hours.
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission, a major gas component of magma, was measured at an average of 237 tonnes per day, an indication that hydrothermal or magmatic activity is occurring beneath the edifice
“Ground deformation data from continuous GPS measurements indicate a slight deflation of the lower and mid slopes since January 2020,” said Phivolcs.
“Short-term electronic tilt monitoring on the southeastern flanks recorded continuing deflation on the lower slopes but inflation on the mid slopes since April 2020,” it added./PN
