The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded an emission of superheated plume or gas at the crater of Mount Kanlaon in the Negros Island Region on Wednesday evening, which may trigger an explosive eruption.
Phivolcs said the superheated gas emission occurred between 6:41 p.m. and 7:13 p.m. on January 28. This event indicated the magma beneath the volcano may be rising and nearing the volcano’s crater.
The state seismic agency said the swarm of volcanic earthquakes this month was also an indication of a possible eruption.
Mari-Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist at Kanlaon Observatory in La Carlota, said the activity could be a precursor to an explosive eruption.
Phivolcs had monitored the same emissions prior to the December 2024, and May and October 2025 explosive eruptions of Kanlaon Volcano.
The superheated plume activity was recorded by the infrared channels of the Observation Station of the volcano at the Upper Pantao, Canlaon City.
The heat sensitive cameras would frequently record nighttime emissions of superheated gas from Kanlaon Volcano.
Superheated plume or gas emissions could also occur during daytime but these heat sensitive cameras could not capture such images.
Alert Level 2 stays at Kanlaon Volcano.
