Philippines’ Kanlaon Volcano Emits Ash, Communities On Alert

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

NEGROS ISLAND, PHILIPPINES (Worthy News) – Authorities in the Philippines reported ash emission from Mount Kanlaon on Saturday morning, with volcanic ash drifting westward toward nearby communities.

The activity was observed at around 8:32 a.m. local time, according to monitoring reports reviewed by Worthy News, raising concerns about possible ashfall, reduced visibility, and declining air quality.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the event “generated grayish plumes that rose about 300 meters (984 feet) above the crater before drifting west and southwest, as captured by cameras at the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory in Canlaon City.”

RESIDENTS CONCERNED

Disturbing images shared online and reviewed by Worthy News appeared to show a large ash plume rising from the volcano, with residents gathering to watch as ash drifted over nearby communities. The timing of the footage could not be independently verified.

PHIVOLCS, which tracks volcanic activity, has kept Kanlaon under heightened alert in recent months amid intermittent unrest. No large-scale eruption was immediately reported.

Over a 24-hour monitoring period, the volcano recorded three ash emission events lasting between 11 and 40 minutes, along with seven volcanic earthquakes and two volcanic tremors.

PHIVOLCS also reported sulfur dioxide emissions of about 1,924 tons on Friday, generating a plume reaching around 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) that drifted west-southwest.

Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 2, indicating increased unrest and the possibility of sudden steam-driven eruptions or early magmatic activity.

ASH RISKS

Officials warned that volcanic ash can irritate the eyes, skin, and lungs, damage vehicles and electronics, contaminate water sources, and disrupt air and road travel.

Local disaster agencies, including the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, were monitoring the situation and coordinating with regional authorities.

Residents in potentially affected areas were urged to remain indoors where possible, wear protective masks such as N95 respirators, and follow official advisories.

Authorities reiterated that entry into the four-kilometer permanent danger zone around the crater remains prohibited, along with aircraft flying close to the volcano.

PHIVOLCS warned of possible hazards including sudden phreatic eruptions, ashfall, and further volcanic activity as conditions evolve.

ACTIVE VOLCANO

Mount Kanlaon is among the most active volcanoes in the Philippines and has recorded numerous eruptions and ash emissions in recent decades.

In 2016, a sudden steam-driven eruption killed three hikers near the summit. Since then, the volcano has shown intermittent activity, including ash emissions and short-lived eruptions in recent years that prompted evacuations and safety restrictions.

Authorities say such activity can escalate quickly, requiring close monitoring by scientists and emergency agencies.

Elsewhere in the Philippines, which lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, volcanic activity has caused significant loss of life in the past.

The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo killed more than 800 people, while Mayon Volcano has seen deadly eruptions, including a 1993 event that killed dozens. Taal Volcano has also produced devastating eruptions, with one of the deadliest in 1911 claiming more than 1,000 lives.

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