Hazardous eruption possible in Kanlaon'

BACOLOD CITY - State volcanologists yesterday warned that a "hazardous eruption" may occur at Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island in the coming weeks.

- With Michael Punongbayan

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Alert Level 3 remains in effect over Kanlaon, which means a "hazardous eruption" is possible.

"We are not discounting that possibility that it may happen and Alert Level 4 may be raised," Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said during a meeting of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council in this city yesterday.

The meeting was conducted following an aerial inspection over the volcano, using two Black Hawk helicopters of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

On board the helicopters were experts from Phivolcs, officials of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management councils of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, and representatives from the Office of Civil Defense in Western and Central Visayas.

The team conducted rapid damage assessment and needs analysis, and gathered critical data on potential hazards of the Kanlaon eruption.