Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island erupted on Tuesday morning, April 8. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the explosive eruption occurred at 5:51 a.m. and produced an ash plume approximately 4 km tall, drifting southwest. The eruption ended at around 6:47 a.m.
According to PHIVOLCS, the eruption was caused by gas pressure. “An explosive eruption is a type of volcanic eruption that is highly violent and powerful, caused by the rapid release of gas and pressure from magma beneath the earth’s surface,” Director Teresito Bacolcol told Philippine News Agency. In contrast, steady lava flows are called effusive eruptions.
PHIVOLCS also warned of pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) descending the slopes on the general southern edifice. PDCs are flows of hot ash, gases, and debris and can move as fast as 100 meters per second, according to the British Geological Survey.
The eruption has affected areas to the volcano’s south, in both Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental. Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas has called for the suspension of classes in the city as well as entry into the 6 km Permanent Danger Zone surrounding Kanlaon Volcano. The component cities of Bago and San Carlos have also announced class suspensions. La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan has ordered the distribution of face masks to residents affected by ashfall.
Other towns to the west of Kanlaon have also reported ashfall, particularly in Barangays Yubo, Ara-al, and Cubay in La Carlota.
This marks Kanlaon’s third eruption since June 3, 2024. Since the second eruption on December 9, 2024, the volcano has been on alert level three, which means “sustained increases in the levels of volcanic earthquakes, occurrence of low-frequency earthquakes,” increased sulfur dioxide emissions, “forceful and voluminous steam or ash ejections,” and lava flow, according to PHIVOLCS. Local government units within the 6 km danger zone were advised to evacuate.
Since December 2024, around 8,000 residents have evacuated the area around Kanlaon, said Office of Civil Defense Region 6 Director Raul Fernandez in a Dobol B TV interview.
As of writing, no major earthquakes have been reported.
