Philippine Volcano Kanlaon Erupts, Disrupts Life for Local Villages

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Mount Kanlaon, a volcano located on Negros Island, erupted briefly early Tuesday morning, sending a 4-kilometer (2.4-mile) plume of ash and debris into the sky. The eruption prompted local authorities to suspend classes in four villages due to ashfall, although no injuries or property damage have been reported.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology stated that the eruption occurred shortly after dawn and lasted more than an hour, affecting at least four farming villages situated southwest of the volcano. Residents were advised to remain cautious, particularly as many remained in emergency shelters following the previous eruption in December, which had necessitated the evacuation of thousands.

Philippine chief volcanologist Teresito Bacolcol explained that while the current alert level for Kanlaon is set at 3—indicating a high level of volcanic unrest—there have not been significant signs of increased activity, such as a rise in volcanic earthquakes that would necessitate raising the alert to the highest level, which denotes a hazardous eruption.

“The possibility of a bigger eruption is always there,” Bacolcol noted, urging residents to exercise vigilance and to stay away from a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) danger zone surrounding the volcano.

Mount Kanlaon is one of the Philippines’ 24 most active volcanoes, standing at 2,435 meters (7,988 feet). Its active history includes an eruption in 1996 that resulted in fatalities among hikers near its peak, highlighting the volcano’s unpredictability.

The Philippines, located in the “Ring of Fire,” is notoriously prone to both earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In addition to geological hazards, the nation contends with approximately 20 typhoons and storms annually, further establishing it as one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.