The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported an ash eruption from the active crater of Kanlaon Volcano reaching as high as 4,500 meters above its summit on Sunday.
The heaving volcano has registered 29 earthquakes since Sunday after it erupted at about 1:29 p.m., spewing out columns of ash as high as 1 kilometer up into the air for about five minutes.
An explosion-type earthquake was felt at Intensity 2, accompanied by a rumbling sound from Barangay Cabagnaan, La Castellana; Sitio Guintubdan, Brgy Ara-al and Brgy. Yubo, La Carlota City and Brgy. Ilijan, Bago City.
The ash plume was also seen piercing the clouds above the active crater from the Southeastern side of the volcano, which, reports quoted Phivolcs as saying, may have reached as high as 4,500 meters above the summit.
Light ashfall was also experienced in Brgy. Miranda in Hinigaran and Pontevedra, reaching as far as Nueva Valencia on Guimaras Island.
Mt. Kanlaon’s activity was placed at alert level 1, meaning it is in a period of unrest.
Phivolcs also reminded the local government units and the public to strictly observe the 4-kilometer radius permanent danger zone.
“Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as airborne ash from a sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft,” Phivolcs added.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) encouraged residents in localities affected by the ashfall to wear masks and stay indoors if possible, as sulfuric odor was detected by the La Carlota City Volcano Observatory.
Zeaphard Caelian, head of the PDMPD, warned that sulphur from the ashfall is carcinogenic, or can cause cancer, and can also trigger asthma and other pulmonary problems.
“The children, the elderly and those with asthma should not be exposed and have to protect themselves from the ashfall,” he added.
Barangay health workers in the affected areas have been tasked to provide residents with protective masks.
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