‘Birth’ of volcano noted in Kalinga mountain

TABUK, Kalinga – An inspection team said the “Lappat bulge” that occurred April this year in Lappat, Cabaritan here signals the birth of a fumarole or a volcanic vent, considering the relative proximity of the site a dormant volcano.

Mt. Binubulauan, said to be a dormant volcano, is located at Balatoc, Pasil.

The report prepared by engineer Dominic Jude Sugguiyao, supervising environmental management specialist revealed the ground swelled out of proportion blocking the whole width of the waterway.

“The flow of water was practically diverted as the surge of impounded water scoured through an adjacent cornfield and circled back to its original route downstream”, the team observed.

In the report, the team composed of personnel from the mineral and environment services of the province found out that as of August 4 the mound stood at a vertical distance of approximately 10 meters above the original riverbed with length and width measuring at about 40 meters and 15 meters respectively.

According to the report, the rate that the swelling has grown since its discovery in April is approximately 83mm (3.3in) a day.

The team also noted an odor attributed to fumaroles or sulfur dioxide emitted through crevices on the soil heap can be detected between 3:00 – 5:00 in the afternoon.

The types of soil extruded from underneath vary from clay, sandstone, and other soil and rock category. As viewed the relatively flat ground lying at the middle and surrounded by hills is a semblance of a worn down volcanic crater.

Cabaritan barangay chairman Rodolfo Madarang, who accompanied the team, narrated that long before the unusual phenomenon, people wading at the creek could feel the warm temperature of the water and observe rising vapor at the area where the swelling is situated, a feature corroborating the possible volcanic-related origin of the ground deformation.

The team urged an in-depth investigation of the Mines and Geo-Science Bureau and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. -- PIA-Kalinga