Kanlaon Volcano Emits Ash Three Times on Saturday Morning

Three Ash Emissions Recorded Over Kanlaon Volcano

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that the Kanlaon Volcano, which lies between Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, released ash three times on Saturday morning, less than a day after a small eruption.

Phivolcs posted on Facebook that the ash emissions were recorded at 7:04 a.m., 8:26 a.m., and 9:23 a.m. The Kanlaon Volcano Observatory in Canlaon City (KVO-CC) made a timelapse film of these events. The agency said, “These events made grayish plumes that rose up to 300 meters above the crater and then drifted northwest.”

Follow-Up to Friday Night’s Explosive Eruption

There were many ash releases barely a few hours after a fairly explosive eruption happened on Friday between 8:05 and 8:08 p.m. The eruption sent an ash cloud 2,000 meters high that moved northwest and affected a number of surrounding towns.

The Bago City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) said that five barangays in Negros Occidental—Mailum, Ma-ao, Ilijan, Bacong, and Abuanan, reported ashfall and a sulfuric smell.

Phivolcs also said that ashfall was seen in Barangay Ara-al (La Carlota City), higher Barangay Sag-ang (La Castellana), and upper Barangay Codcod (San Carlos City) after the eruption on Friday night.

Phivolcs Maintains Alert Level 2 Over Kanlaon

As of Saturday afternoon, Kanlaon Volcano is still at Alert Level 2, which means that unrest is growing and there is a chance of further phreatic (steam-driven) or magmatic activity.

Phivolcs repeated that people are not allowed to enter the four-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) since there is still a potential of surprise explosions. It also told planes to stay away from the top of the volcano because of the danger of ash clouds and debris.

Residents Urged to Stay Alert

As activity continues, officials told those who live close to stay alert and take safety steps. Phivolcs said that tiny eruptions or unexpected ash releases might happen without notice.

The agency added, “Kanlaon’s activity is still high, and people should stay away from the danger zone and keep up with official Phivolcs updates.”

A Persistent Source of Volcanic Activity in the Visayas

Kanlaon Volcano is the highest mountain in the Visayas at 2,465 meters. It is also one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines. It is located between the provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental, and it has had several phreatic eruptions throughout the years, which have caused small ashfalls in nearby communities.

The latest series of emissions shows how unstable the volcano is and how important it is for people in adjacent communities like Canlaon, La Carlota, and Bago to be ready. Phivolcs is still keeping a careful eye on Kanlaon’s activity as of Saturday afternoon. They have not ruled out the potential of more ash emissions or small eruptions in the next several days.