Residents and local government units (LGUs) in Panay facing Negros Island were asked to stay on ‘high alert’ following the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano early Tuesday morning, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Western Visayas said.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded an ‘explosive eruption’ at 5:51 a.m. on April 8, which lasted until 6:47 a.m. It produced a voluminous bent plume estimated at 4,000 meters tall that drifted southwest.
“All local government units in Panay, especially those in coastal areas facing Negros Island are advised to remain on high alert for possible ashfall,” the OCD Western Visayas said.
Pyroclastic density currents were also observed descending from the southern flank of the volcano, according to Mariton Bornas, Chief of the Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division. She classified the eruption as “minor explosive.”
Kanlaon Volcano, which straddles between the Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental, remains under Alert Level 3, according to the latest PHIVOLCS bulletin covering the 24-hour period from 12:00 a.m. Monday to 12:00 a.m. Tuesday. Level 3 indicates magmatic unrest that could lead to further eruptions.
The state seismic agency advised the public to evacuate the six-kilometer radius danger zone and reiterated that no individuals should remain within the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone.
“In response to the increased volcanic activity, the Kanlaon City Government has temporarily suspended the previously allowed window time for farmers and evacuees to enter the 6-kilometer Extended Danger Zone (EDZ),” according to the LGU.
On Monday, Kanlaon Volcano recorded 14 volcanic earthquakes and emitted moderate ash plumes that rose up to 300 meters high. The volcano also released 1,655 tons of sulfur dioxide, Phivolcs reported.
Phivolcs said it is closely monitoring the volcano following this development. Kanlaon exploded twice on June 3 and December 9, 2024, which evacuated many communities away from danger zones, after nearly seven years of relative dormancy.
“Please prepare face masks for immediate distribution to affected communities. Residents are also advised to stay indoors as much as possible and take necessary precautions to protect themselves from ash inhalation,” the OCD Western Visayas added.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated. Originally posted with the headline “Phivolcs records ‘explosive eruption’ at Kanlaon.”