Kanlaon Volcano erupts for third time in 2026

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported a moderately explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island at 6:07 p.m. on Sunday.

The eruption generated a two-kilometer-high eruption column that drifted to the southwest.

Photos and videos of the eruption circulated online, showing visible flames in the forested area surrounding the volcano.

According to Phivolcs, this is the third eruption of the volcano this year, following similar events on Feb. 19 and 26.

Alert Level 2 is maintained over Kanlaon Volcano, and entry into the four-kilometer permanent danger zone is prohibited.

Kanlaon Volcano, the most active volcano in the Visayas, straddles the border of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental on Negros Island. Rising 2,435 meters above sea level, it is the highest peak in the Visayas and has recorded more than 30 eruptions since 1866.

The volcano’s most significant recent eruption occurred on Dec. 9, 2024, when a powerful explosive event sent a five-kilometer-high ash column into the sky and triggered the forced evacuation of thousands of residents from surrounding communities. The eruption prompted Phivolcs to raise the alert level to 3, indicating a magmatic eruption with potential for further escalation.

The December 2024 eruption displaced more than 80,000 residents from municipalities and cities on both the Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental sides of the volcano, with evacuation centers set up across La Carlota City, Bago City, and Canlaon City to accommodate affected families.

In 2025, the volcano continued to exhibit heightened activity, with a series of eruptions in February and June that again forced temporary evacuations and ashfall advisories across several towns, keeping communities in a prolonged state of alert.

The city government of Canlaon in Negros Oriental, where the volcano is situated, advised residents to stay calm and remain alert.

In the event of ashfall, the public is advised to wear face masks and stay indoors.

Local government units in proximity to the volcano are monitoring the situation.