The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warns residents living near Mt. Kanlaon of Negros about getting within the four-kilometer danger zone due to the volcano’s increasing activity. 

The volcano is now under alert level 1 or “low-level” unrest, due to its at least 41 volcanic earthquakes from movements or eruptions, including seven shallow tornillo or  screw-like patterns, that were detected last June 30 to July 3. 

“The increase in seismicity is relative to the previous observations, especially the record of tornillo-type earthquake events,” Philvocs Director Renato Solidum, Jr. said. 

Phivolcs said this increasing seismic activity may have been caused by shallow hydrothermal processes that could then cause stream-driven or phreatic  eruptions from the summit crater. The barangays of Canlaon City, La Castellana, La Carlota City, Bago City, and San Carlos City are tagged as permanent danger zones. 

Mt. Kanlaon, which spans Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, is estimated to be 30 kilometers southeast of Bacolod City. It last erupted in December of 2017. 

=Aviation authorities are warned not to fly close to the summit. 

Photo Credit: Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc.