PHIVOLCS raises Kanlaon alert to Level 3 after eruption

PHIVOLCS raised Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island to Alert Level 3 following an explosive eruption on December 9.

The volcano recorded eight volcanic earthquakes and emitted 1,611 tonnes of sulfur dioxide over the past 24 hours, with moderate plumes rising up to 100 meters tall observed drifting west-southwest and westward.

Alert Level 3 indicates intensified unrest with potential hazards such as sudden explosive eruption, lava flow or effusion, ashfall, pyroclastic density current (PDC), rockfall, and lahars during heavy rains.

PHIVOLCS warns residents near the volcano to exercise caution and follow safety guidelines provided by local authorities; a six-kilometer radius from the summit remains off-limits.

The province of Negros Oriental has declared a state of calamity due to the ongoing volcanic activity.