Scientists warn of possible eruption amid 'anomalous' gas emissions at Kanlaon Volcano in the Philippines

Seismologists warned of a possible volcanic eruption amid 'anomalous emissions' at Kanlaon Volcano in the Philippines.

The 8,100-ft stratovolcano, which straddles the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental in the country's Visayas region, has been spewing ash and sulfur dioxide at increased rates since September 10.

State seismological agency PHIVOLCS said sulfur dioxide emissions soared to 9,985 tonnes per day on September 10 - nearly triple the volcano's daily average.

PHIVOLCS Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division chief Mariton Bornas said on September 11: 'This is the highest we have recorded instrumentally since we started measuring volcanic gas at Kanlaon in 2019. Because our monitoring parameters are high, these emissions are a bit anomalous. There is an increased chance we might have a magmatic eruption.

'Before, we only had phreatic or steam-driven eruptions. It is only now that we may have a magmatic eruption. We cannot predict yet when the volcano will erupt.'

Kanlaon's last magmatic eruption was in 1902, he added.

In a September 12 bulletin, PHIVOLCS said it recorded 79 volcanic earthquakes and a sulfur dioxide flux of 11,556 tonnes per day. The volcano edifice was also said to be inflated.

Kanlaon is currently under Alert Level 2 indicating 'moderate levels of volcanic unrest'. Steam and gas emissions, ground deformation, intermittent steam or ash explosions, and above baseline sulfur dioxide emissions may be observed.

The alert level may escalate to level 3 due to heightened seismic activity.

The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands inside the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' where the majority of Earth's volcano eruptions and earthquakes happen.