A moderately explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano late Thursday afternoon, 19 February, sent ash and sulfur-laden plumes over parts of the Negros Island Region (NIR), prompting disaster authorities to heighten precautions in affected areas.
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)-NIR reported that the main eruptive event occurred from 4:39 p.m. to 4:41 p.m., lasting about two minutes, and was followed by ash emissions that continued until 5:25 p.m. The blast generated shockwaves felt in La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, San Enrique, Hinigaran, and La Carlota City, while light to moderate ashfall was documented in several barangays of Pontevedra, including Zamora, Gomez, Mabini, Burgos, Bta. Rizal, Antipolo, Canroma, and Cambarus.
In Moises Padilla, residents of Barangay Odiong reported a distinct sulfuric odor, while communities in La Carlota City’s Barangays Ara-al, Cubay, Nagasi, San Miguel, and La Granja experienced a combination of ashfall and sulfur fumes. Similar conditions were noted in Barangay Sag-ang in La Castellana, as well as in multiple barangays of Hinigaran and Bago City, where light ash deposits and the smell of sulfur were observed.
Regional Director Junifer Sermeno of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) issued a standdown order at 7:00 p.m., although local government units (LGUs) were instructed to sustain preemptive evacuations within the 4- to 6-kilometer Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) as a precaution. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) released an advisory in connection with the eruption, while the Department of Health (DOH) reiterated its earlier public health guidance on volcanic hazards through Memorandum No. 2026-0056. OCD-NIR continued to coordinate with concerned LGUs for situation updates, asset inventory, and the pre-positioning of non-food items, as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in Silay confirmed there were no flight cancellations as of 5:00 p.m.
Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (LDRRMCs) rolled out various emergency actions. In San Carlos City, an emergency response team was dispatched to Barangay Codcod, along with additional face masks for residents. In Canlaon City, BDRRM rescue vehicles were deployed to designated pick-up points in Barangays Pula and Masulog, with units placed on mobile status to reach ten staging areas. La Carlota City convened an emergency DRRM council meeting, initiated a Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDANA), and ordered the suspension of classes until further notice. La Castellana likewise called an emergency DRRM meeting, while the Pontevedra LDRRMO activated its Emergency Operations Center, kept 20 barangays under close monitoring, deployed response teams, and distributed face masks and goggles.
As of 7:00 p.m., the OCD-NIR Bacolod warehouse listed 14,702 N95 face masks, 15,000 safety goggles, and three portable water filtration kits in stock. DOH-NIRCHD reported an additional 1,974,000 face masks available, while DSWD-NIR had 223,608 family food packs, 10,549 ready-to-eat food packs, and more than 17,000 non-food items on hand. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) flushing teams and Philippine National Police (PNP) law and order teams in NIR remained on standby for any required operations.
Pontevedra and Hinigaran have requested more face masks and goggles for their affected residents. DOH-NIRCHD is being tapped to augment face mask supplies, while OCD-NIR will provide goggles as needed. Authorities continue to keep a close watch on Kanlaon Volcano and advise communities within the 4–6 kilometer radius to remain vigilant for additional ash emissions or ground tremors.