Classes in La Carlota City and La Castellana in Negros Occidental suspended classes in all levels due to the persisting volcanic activity of the Kanlaon Volcano.

In La Carlota City, the classes will remain suspended until Friday, 3 January.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that since 1 January, the volcano had seven ash emission episodes.

Two of these emissions occurred from 6:05 AM to 7:44 AM, and from 7:41 AM to 7:51 AM, in which grayish plumes were seen.

The ash emissions rose 100 to 200 meters above the crater, which drifted west.

Since Wednesday, the volcano also emitted 3,406 tonnes of sulfur dioxide which was also accompanied by 26 volcanic earthquakes.

Based on the latest advisory of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the ongoing activity of Kanlaon has affected more than 12,000 families, equal to at least 46,000 individuals.

The agricultural damages in Region 6 have topped P33.5 million.

Assistance from different government departments including the Office of the President and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reached P149.99 million.

Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3.

As the volcano exhibits slow progression, Mariton Antonia Bornas, chief of the Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division of Phivolcs said that there could be days or even months before another occurrence of an explosive eruption.