In central Philippines, around 87,000 people are being urgently evacuated following a dramatic eruption of Mount Kanlaon, which produced a towering ash plume and superheated gas and debris flowing down its slopes.
The eruption occurred on Monday and, while it did not cause any immediate casualties, authorities have raised the alert level, indicating the potential for further explosive eruptions.
Teresito Bacolcol, chief volcanologist of the Philippines, reported that volcanic ash has spread over a large area, including Antique province, more than 200 kilometers (124 miles) away. This has resulted in reduced visibility and health risks for residents.
As a precaution, several domestic flights—along with a flight to Singapore—were canceled, and two local flights were redirected due to the ash fallout from Kanlaon.
Evacuations are focusing on towns and villages located nearest to the western and southern slopes of the volcano, particularly in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, where nearly 47,000 residents are being relocated from a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) danger zone, according to the Office of Civil Defense.
By Tuesday morning, over 6,000 individuals had moved to evacuation centers, while others have sought refuge with relatives in La Castellana, as reported by Mayor Rhumyla Mangilimutan.
Disaster-response teams are quickly setting up evacuation centers and acquiring essential supplies, such as face masks, food, and hygiene kits, in preparation for the upcoming holiday season—traditionally a busy period for travel and family gatherings in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation.
In addition to the evacuations, local authorities have closed schools and imposed a nighttime curfew in particularly vulnerable areas.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology noted that the nearly four-minute eruption triggered a pyroclastic density current—a superhot mix of gas, ash, debris, and rocks capable of incinerating anything in its path.
“It’s a one-time but major eruption,” Bacolcol stated, explaining that volcanologists are evaluating whether the eruption was caused by old volcanic rock accumulation or rising magma from below.
Despite the significant eruption, few volcanic earthquakes were detected before the event occurred.
The alert level for Kanlaon has been upgraded to the third-highest level on a five-tier warning system, suggesting the onset of a “magmatic eruption” that could lead to further explosive activity.
Standing at 2,435 meters (7,988 feet), Mount Kanlaon is among the Philippines’ 24 most active volcanoes and last erupted in June, forcing hundreds of residents into emergency shelters. In 1996, three hikers were killed near the summit during an unanticipated eruption, highlighting the volcano’s unpredictable nature.
The Philippines, situated in the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is susceptible to both earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and also experiences around 20 typhoons and storms annually, making it one of the countries most vulnerable to natural disasters.
Credit: ABC News
