The Kanlaon volcano, located in the central Philippines, erupted again on Tuesday morning, spewing huge amounts of ash and smoke into the sky. The ash from the volcano rose as high as about 4,000 meters (2.5 miles), after which schools in nearby areas were recommended to be closed.
The Kanlaon volcano is one of the 24 active volcanoes in the Philippines. The volcano also erupted in December last year, prompting orders to evacuate nearby villages. When the eruption occurred again on Tuesday, areas around the volcano on Negros Island were already under evacuation orders.
Time and impact of the eruption
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said in a statement that the eruption at the Kanlaon volcano began at 5:51 am and stopped at around 6:47 am (2247 GMT on Monday). The volcano spewed a large ash plume, 4,000 meters high, which drifted southwest. The ash plume could be seen billowing into the sky in videos posted on social media.
Preparedness and safety measures
John de Asis, rescue officer of the La Castellana municipality in Negros Occidental province, said families living within 4 to 6 kilometers of the volcano had already been evacuated to safer places during last December’s eruption. “Right now we are just observing which villages will be affected by the ash fall,” he said. In addition, he recommended the closure of schools and workplaces in the municipality.
Local reaction and experience
Chanel Nicor, 22, who was waiting for a bus to school at the time, described the eruption as “the sound sounded like a big rock fell from a high place, then I looked up and saw that the ash cloud from the volcano kept getting bigger.” She said she was scared, but this time she was more informed and prepared than the last eruption, which eased her fear.
Previous eruptions and warnings
During the December eruption, the Philippine government issued a level three alert, one of a five-level warning scale, over the potential danger from the volcano. Following this, hundreds of nearby residents were evacuated, especially as the volcano emitted dangerous gases. The Philippine Institute of Astrophysics has closely monitored the volcano’s activity this time as well. The eruption of the Kanlaon volcano has emerged as a major natural phenomenon in the Philippines. No major casualties have been reported so far due to the safety measures taken by the authorities and the vigilance of the people. However, the incident is an important reminder to the Philippines that constant monitoring and preparedness is necessary for volcanic activity.
