Kanlaon Volcano emits ash, PHIVOLCS raises alert

The summit crater of Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Occidental emitted ash on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), with additional emissions observed this Wednesday morning.

Time-lapse footage showed that the ash emission occurred from 3:49 p.m. to 4:27 p.m. on Tuesday and between 9:47 a.m. and 10:27 a.m., and from 4:12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. this Wednesday, generating grayish plumes that rose up to 400 meters above the crater before drifting southwest.

In its latest observation, Phivolcs reported sustained elevated sulfur dioxide emissions and recorded nine volcanic earthquakes and 6,432 tons of Sulfur Dioxide Flux on Wednesday morning, indicating increased unrest at Kanlaon.

The volcano remains under Alert Level 2 with residents and tourists prohibited from entering the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ).

Flights above Mt. Kanlaon are now also prohibited due to ongoing developments in its seismic activity that may lead to eruptive unrest and an increase in alert level, as per Phivolcs.