Mount Kanlaon in Negros Island shocked Cebu province on Thursday morning after volcanic ash from its moderately explosive eruption reached Toledo City and other midwestern areas of the province.

“The Mount Kanlaon eruption happened as early as 8 AM [and] we already received reports from Toledo [City] of heavy ashfall and other LGU’s also followed on the west ward side of Cebu,” CPDRRMO Head Dennis Pastor said in an interview with SunStar Cebu.

Areas affected include Toledo City and midwestern Cebu municipalities of Balamban, Pinamungajan, and Aloguinsan. 

Residents in Metro Cebu, particularly in Cebu City, also reported ashfall from Mount Kanlaon, prompting several municipalities and cities across the province to suspend classes at all levels.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Provincial DRRMO reported that it will distribute 6,500 N95 masks to affected areas, including 500 masks delivered to Toledo City and 6,000 additional masks for municipalities along Cebu's western coast.