Kanlaon erupts explosively, generates 2000-meter tall plume
MANILA, Philippines — The Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island generated a 2000-meter ash plume late after it erupted late Thursday afternoon, February 19, Phivolcs reported.
State seismologists said the moderately explosive eruption at Kanlaon's summit crater occurred at 4:39 p.m. and lasted two minutes. The dark gray plume drifted southwest, following the fall of pyroclastic density currents down the volcano's slope as far as 1 kilometer.
Alert Level 2 remains in effect for Kanlaon Volcano, reflecting increasing unrest. This is also the first recorded eruption in 2026 since it last erupted on Oct. 25, 2025. The Kanlaon Volcano, however, has consistently been spewing ash and experiencing volcanic earthquakes.
On February 18, the Kanlaon Volcano observed 10 earthquakes and has been emitting sulfur dioxide at a rate of 346 tonnes per day. Emissions were moderate to weak over the past week.
Before the October 2025 eruption, the volcano's last explosive activity occurred the day after the midterm elections, sending ash and volcanic gases up to 3,000 to 4,000 meters into the air.
Phivolcs has prohibited the entry into a 4-kilometer radius of the permanent danger zone, warning nearby communities of hazards like sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions and magmatic activity.
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