Kanlaon Volcano erupts anew, nearly 4 months after last eruption

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported a moderately explosive eruption at the summit crater of Kanlaon Volcano in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, at 4:39 p.m. Thursday, almost four months since its last eruption in October last year.

Some netizens shared videos and photos of the eruption on social media, including Sam Pantalita, who personally witnessed it from her residence in Canlaon City, approximately 5.4 kilometers from the crater.

The eruption was also visible from the Barangay Cabacungan public plaza in La Castellana, Negros Occidental.

It lasted two minutes based on seismic records and generated a dark gray eruption plume that rose 2,000 meters above the crater before drifting southwest.

Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) descended the southern and southwestern upper slopes within one kilometer of the summit crater, as recorded by the IP cameras of the Kanlaon Volcano Network, according to Phivolcs.

The Negros Occidental Operations Center advised the public to be cautious of pyroclastic flow and ashfall.

The recent eruption follows a series of ash emission activities recorded in the past weeks.

The volcano last erupted on Oct. 24, 2025, affecting thousands of residents in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

Kanlaon Volcano remains at Alert Level 2, and entry into the four-kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is strictly prohibited.