THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has raised the status of Mt. Kanlaon to "Alert Level 1" following the increase of volcanic activities.
Phivolcs also warns the local government units surrounding the volcano and the public to strictly observe non-entry within the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) due to the possibilities of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.
Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano's summit as ejecta from any sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft, Phivolcs also warned.
Phivolcs reported the seismic monitoring network in the volcano recorded at least 80 volcanic earthquakes since March 9.
Phivolcs also recorded at least 77 low frequency events that are associated with magmatic fluids beneath the edifice.
The increased seismic activity could be succeeded by steam-driven or phreatic eruptions at the summit crater, despite the absence of visible degassing or steaming from the active vent this year.
Ground deformation data from continuous GPS measurements indicate a period of long-term slow inflation of the edifice since 2017, while short-term electronic tilt monitoring on the southeastern flanks recorded slow inflation of the lower slopes since May 2019 and pronounced inflation of the upper slopes in the end of January 2020.
"These parameters indicate that volcanic processes are underway deep beneath the edifice that may be caused by deep-seated degassing or hydrothermal activity or magmatic intrusion," the agency further said.
