On Monday afternoon, December 9, 2024, Mt. Kanlaon on Negros Island experienced another explosive eruption, prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to elevate the alert level to 3, indicating magmatic unrest. The eruption, which occurred at 3:03 p.m., generated a massive plume that ascended 3,000 meters above the vent and drifted west-southwest. According to Phivolcs, pyroclastic density currents were observed descending the southeastern slopes of the volcano, as captured by internet protocol and thermal camera monitors.
This recent volcanic activity follows a similar eruption on June 3, which had previously escalated the alert level to 2 and led to the displacement of over 9,000 families from 18 villages across five local government units in Negros Occidental, including the cities of Bago and La Carlota, and the municipalities of La Castellana, Moises Padilla, and Pontevedra.
Phivolcs warned that the current Alert Level 3 signifies the onset of a magmatic eruption, which could potentially lead to further explosive eruptions. Local authorities have been instructed to evacuate residents within a six-kilometer radius of the volcano’s summit and to prepare for additional evacuations if necessary.
In response to the eruption, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in Bago City advised residents in nearby barangays to remain indoors. Over the weekend, Phivolcs reported six ash emission events from the volcano’s crater on December 6, following similar occurrences in November.
Residents in villages near the base of Mt. Kanlaon have been advised to wear masks for protection against ashfall. Recent weeks have seen reports of ashfall in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia, and traces of ash along with sulfurous fumes in Barangay Yubo, La Carlota City, and Barangay Sag-ang, La Castellana. Additionally, on November 7, tourism employees at the Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center in Barangay Ilijan, Bago City, were told not to report to work due to the strong sulfur smell and light ashfall.