Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology experts have been asked to assess the damage caused by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake on Kanlaon Volcano following large cracks discovered at its crater, and a landslide at Margaha Valley, Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park superintendent Cecil Cañada said yesterday.
He said the PHIVOLCS has been informed of the quake damage to the volcano and they are trying to arrange for an aerial survey of the area. It is difficult to get a government chopper as they are being used for relief operations in Negros Oriental, Cañada said.
Ma. Antonia Bornas, chief of thePHIVOLCVS Science Research Specialist Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, said they need to verify the report through an aerial survey.
Kanlaon Volcano, which straddles Negros Occidental and Oriental, has been temporarily closed to mountaineers, Cañada said.
It is an active volcano with a peak elevation of 2,435meters (7,989feet) and a base diameter of 30kilometers.
Aftershocks from Monday’s earthquake and occasional heavy rainfall could pose danger to the life of mountain trekkers and tourists in the MKNP, he explained.
PHIVOLCS recorded three aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 2 to 3 and epicenters located in La Libertad, Tayasan and Mabinay.
Cañada said about three 50-meter long cracks have been spotted near the crater, while other cracks and a landslide have been foundwithin the MKNP.
The volcano continues to be under observation with aftershocks continuing, he said.
He said a landslide was also seen at the Margaha Valley, the prehistoric crater of the volcano about 6,000 feet above sea level.
Meanwhile, the public is being reminded not to believe text messages that tsunamis and earthquakes will hit Negros, which are sowing fear and panic, Gani Republica of the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Management Program Division, said yesterday.
The claims made in such text messages have no technical or scientific bases, he said.
They only cause more stress and anxiety to people who arealready traumatized, he added.*CPG back
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