MANILA, Philippines, June 7 ------ Heavy thunderstorms over Negros Island could trigger lahars, or volcanic mudflows, around the southern slopes of Mount Kanlaon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) warned.
In an advisory issued, PHIVOLCS called on Negros residents, especially those residing in communities along rivers draining southern Kanlaon, monitor weather conditions and take pre-emptive measures. “Lahar can threaten communities along the middle and lower slopes with inundation, burial and wash out,” the agency said.
PHIVOLCS also reported that Wednesday’s downpour caused volcanic sediment flows on the southern slopes of Kanlaon. Lahars were first observed around 1 p.m. and lasted for 25 minutes. It said that gray and cohesive mud, plant debris, and gravel were deposited by lahars in four waterways:
• Tamburong Creek, flowing through Biak-na-bato and Calapnagan in La Castellana.
• Intiguiwan River, impacting Guinpanaan and reaching upstream of Baji-Baji Falls in Cabacungan, La Castellana.
• Padudusan Falls in Masulog, Canlaon City.
• Binalbagan River, draining the southern flank of Kanlaon Volcano
PHIVOLCS said that volcanic mudflows remained mostly within their channels, except along Tamburong Creek. “Flows along Tamburong Creek overflowed and dumped a few centimeters of deposit on a stretch of the main road in Biak-na-Bato, rendering this impassable to motorists,” it said.
Kanlaon was placed under Alert Level 2, indicating increasing unrest, after the volcano spewed a five-kilometer high ash cloud into the sky on Monday evening. PHIVOLCS recorded 27 volcanic earthquakes at Kanlaon in the 24 hours. The volcano also sent a 1.5-kilometer high ash plume into the sky.
Source: philstar.com
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