BACOLOD CITY: Superheated gas emissions have been detected at the crater of Kanlaon Volcano, a possible precursor to an explosive eruption, a Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) resident volcanologist said on Thursday (Jan 29).
Mari Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist at the Kanlaon Observatory in La Carlota City, said heat-sensitive cameras recorded the latest emission between 6.41pm and 7.13pm on Wednesday.
She said nighttime emissions of superheated gas from Kanlaon have been frequently captured by thermal cameras, as these cannot be seen with the naked eye.
The release of superheated gas may also be occurring during the daytime, but it cannot be visually detected, Quintia added.
She said such emissions could be a precursor or an indication of an impending explosive eruption.
Quintia noted that superheated gas was also detected prior to Kanlaon’s eruptions in December 2024 and in May and October 2025.
The presence of superheated gas indicates that magma beneath the volcano may be rising and nearing the crater, she said.
She also pointed out that earthquake swarms were recorded at the volcano in January.
For these reasons, the four-kilometre permanent danger zone must be strictly enforced to ensure public safety, Quintia said. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
