The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) clarified that recent social media videos showing muddy flows from Kanlaon Volcano are not lava.
PHIVOLCS resident volcanologist Andylin Quintia said that the flow is caused by heavy rain washing away volcanic debris at the volcano’s summit.
While the muddy stream may appear similar to lahar (a volcanic mudflow), Quintia clarified it’s just rainwater mixed with volcanic ash.
Journalist Eric Tenerife in a Facebook post said the road to Biak-na-Bato in La Castellana is now impassable due to a mud flow from the slopes of the volcano.
Residents from Brgy. Biak-na-Bato and nearby areas have evacuated to Brgy. Cabacungan, La Castellana, while some are seeking shelter with relatives in Moises Padilla, he added.
In a latest bulletin released by PHIVOLCS, it said Kanlaon remains at Alert Level 2.
A plume of 2,000 meters tall was recorded along with a voluminous emission, moving south-southwest with a northwest drift in the last 24 hours.
As of June 5, a total of 1,889 fled to a safer zone following the Monday evening eruption.
