Kanlaon erupts anew; ashfall hits barangays

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A moderately explosive eruption occurred at Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island on Friday night, causing ashfall and sulfur stench in 15 barangays, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

The eruption, the fifth since June 3 last year, lasted three minutes and produced plumes that rose 2,000 meters from the crater.

Phivolcs said pyroclastic density currents were spotted on the southern upper slopes of the volcano following the eruption.

Ashfall and sulfur stench were reported in the villages of Abuanan, Bacong, Dulao, Ilijan, Ma-ao, Mailum and Tabunan in Bago City as well as in Araal in La Carlota City, Codcod in San Carlos City, Punta Taytay in Bacolod, Cabagna-an in La Castellana, Zamora in Pontevedra and Minoyan in Murcia in Negros Occidental.

Residents in the villages of Lumapao and Linuthangan in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental also experienced ashfall and sulfur stench.

Phivolcs said three ash emissions also occurred at the volcano yesterday morning, generating grayish plumes that rose 300 meters.

Following the eruption, the Negros Island Region (NIR) police ordered all its units to heighten alert and implement immediate safety measures.

Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, NIR police director, said the police are ready to assist in evacuation, traffic management and disaster response operations.

Canlaon Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas urged residents to remain calm and stay alert as the local government started prepositioning resources and personnel of the city risk reduction and management office.

La Carlota Mayor Joe Luis Jalandoni advised residents to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities.

Donato Sermeno III, chief of the NIR-Office of Civil Defense, informed OCD Administrator Harold Cabreros that no pronounced increase in volcanic earthquakes and ground deformation were detected around the volcano.

Sermeno said that Kanlaon remained under Alert Level 2 or moderate level of unrest, which means that moderate intensity activities such as ash emissions or similar short-lived explosive eruptions may continue.

Such eruptions can cause volcanic hazards within the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone, disperse ash and deposit lahar in drainage canals.

Melchor Sayco, chief of Barangay Mailum, said his village needs potable water as the spring that supplies them water has been affected by ashfall.

Previous Kanlaon eruptions occurred on June 3 and Dec. 9, 2024 as well as on Feb. 6 and May 13 this year.

The recent volcanic activity prompted the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to issue a notice to airmen to ensure the safety of aviation operations.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development said there are 75,000 family food packs available at the DSWD-NIR office, which can be tapped for relief operations if the need arises.

DSWD-NIR chief Arwin Razo yesterday informed DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian the eruption did not necessitate evacuation of residents in any affected barangay. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Rudy Santos