Bacolod City – The earthquake in northern Cebu may open fractures inside Kanlaon Volcano, because of strong ground shaking recently, disclosed Ma. Antonia Bornas, chief of the Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
Bornas, however, said there are no signs that it will have a significant effect on the restive volcano.
A 30-minute ash emission at the crater of Kanlaon Volcano was recently logged by PHIVOLCS, which also recorded 55 volcanic quakes, as of midnight of October 12.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake jolted Cebu again early Monday morning.
PHIVOLCS said Intensity V was felt in Escalante City, Intensity III in the cities of Bago, Cadiz, Himamaylan, San Carlos, and the municipalities of Calatrava, Don Salvador Benedicto, Enrique B. Magalona, Isabela, Manapla, Murcia, Pulupundan, San Enrique, Toboso, and Valladolid in Negros Occidental; and the cities of Canlaon, Guihulngan, Tanjay, as well as Amlan and San Jose in Negros Oriental, while Intensity II was reported in Bacolod City.
Bornas reported continuing signs of magma intrusion, which may indicate magmatic eruption.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), which took effect on October 13 to 14, following the activity of Kanlaon Volcano, prohibiting them from flying near the volcanic summit.
PHIVOLCS is also investigating a subsidence (hole) in Brgy. Talaptap, La Castellana.
Local disaster risk reduction management officer John de Asis, however, said its threat level is “low”.
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. on Monday assured the public that recent tremors felt in different parts of the country are normal, because of active faults and trenches, adding that PHIVOLCS records at least 30 quakes daily.
PHIVOLCS also clarified that recent strong earthquakes in the country are not connected to ongoing volcanic activities.
PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol said there is no direct relationship between tectonic earthquakes and volcanic eruptions or increased seismic activity.
“Strong tectonic earthquakes have no direct effect on volcanic eruptions and increased seismic activity,” Bacolcol told the Philippine News Agency.
He said volcanic eruptions occur only when there is enough pressure inside a volcano’s magma chamber to trigger an explosion.
Bornas, on the other hand, said that the Kanlaon Volcano remains on Alert Level 2. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds with PNA reports)