The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has reiterated its urgent warning, sounding the alarm for heightened preparedness as Kanlaon Volcano intensifies its magmatic unrest.
With alert level 3 still in effect, PHIVOLCS urged local governments to prepare for worst-case scenarios amid the volcano’s unpredictable behavior.
Mariton Antonia Bornas, head of the Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), has issued an urgent warning on Wednesday, January 1, about the escalating magmatic unrest of Kanlaon Volcano.
She emphasized that the volcano’s activity has significantly intensified since its last eruption on December 9.
“We are now in a period of magmatic unrest following the December eruption, as indicated by the presence of new magma in the ash and ongoing ash venting,” Bornas disclosed.
Monitoring data from December 30 recorded sulfur dioxide emissions at 7,079 tons per day—a significant indicator of potential eruptive activity.
However, Bornas stressed the uncertainty surrounding the volcano’s timeline and the potential severity of the disruption it may cause.
“As far as we can see from the data, Kanlaon is preparing to erupt. But when, how, and how large—it remains uncertain,” she said.
Act swifly
Given the unpredictable nature of Kanlaon, Bornas urged local government units (LGUs) to act swiftly.
“The volcanic activity is unpredictable. We have no handle on timelines. It is the volcano that determines this,” she said.
She also emphasized that the gradual nature of the volcano’s unrest means the community could face prolonged uncertainty, potentially lasting days to months, before any explosive or effusive eruptions occur.
“LGUs must develop comprehensive contingency plans that address all possible scenarios, not just one. This should have been done long ago,” Bornas said.
Meanwhile, Moises Padilla town continued to suspend in-person classes from Elementary to High School to protect students from the potential eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has advised schools in affected areas to implement alternative learning modalities to ensure the continuity of education during this period.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.