64 families evacuated as Kanlaon unrest continues

Mount Kanlaon remained active with persistent ash emissions following its moderate explosion last Thursday night, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

In a social media post Friday, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology released time-lapse footage showing an hour-long ash emission observed from 9:43 a.m. to 10:53 a.m.

The ash plume rose about one kilometer above the summit and drifted south of the volcano, the agency said.

Alert Level 2 remains hoisted over Mount Kanlaon based on PHIVOLCS’ latest 24-hour monitoring report, indicating moderate unrest.

Following the volcano’s moderate explosion at 7:04 p.m. Thursday, ash emissions lasted for 71 minutes and were described as “voluminous,” flowing southwest.

The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region said evacuation operations were conducted in affected communities, with 64 families rescued after being displaced by ashfall.

Authorities reported that 19 cities and municipalities were affected, with ashfall covering 16 barangays.

PHIVOLCS also recorded 14 volcanic earthquakes around the volcano’s perimeter and measured 194 tonnes of sulfur dioxide flux during the monitoring period.

The agency warned the public to strictly avoid the four-kilometer permanent danger zone around Kanlaon due to the risk of sudden steam-driven eruptions and possible magmatic activity.