Increased ash emissions reduce chance of an explosive Kanlaon – Phivolcs

SCREENGRABBED FROM FOOTAGE SHARED BY PHIVOLCS-DOST/FACEBOOK

BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines — The continuous ash and gas emissions at Mt. Kanlaon indicate that the volcano is highly active, but they also serve as a “good sign” that its vents are not clogged, a state volcanologist said on Wednesday, June 17.

Mari Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), explained that an open-vent system allows the volcano to safely degas.

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“If the vents are clogged and the volcano fails to degas, the chances of an explosive eruption occurring are higher,” Quintia said. “It is better for the volcano to be open-vented so it can continue releasing pressure.”

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According to Phivolcs, Mt. Kanlaon recorded a series of ash emissions over the past few days: 10 on Sunday, 12 on Monday, and nine on Tuesday. As of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, two additional ash emissions were logged.

READ: Kanlaon Volcano releases ash for the 20th time

Quintia noted that these frequent emissions are entirely consistent with a volcano under alert level 2.

READ: Kanlaon Volcano emits ash Saturday morning; Alert Level 2 stays

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Meanwhile, fine ashfall was reported in Barangay Araal and the Guintubdan area in La Carlota City, though Quintia noted that it can swiftly be washed out by rain.

When asked about potential water contamination from the ashfall, Quintia clarified that the monitoring of local water systems falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health (DOH). /cb

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