KANLAON VOLCANO ERUPTS, ALERT LEVEL 3 UP

KANLAON Volcano in Negros Island erupted Monday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Phivolcs hoisted Alert Level 3 or magmatic unrest over Kanlaon Volcano after its explosive eruption at 3:03 p.m. Monday.

In its bulletin, Phivolcs said the eruption produced a voluminous plume that rapidly rose 3,000 meters above the vent and drifted west-southwest.

“Pyroclastic density currents descended the slopes on the general southeastern edifice based on IP (internet protocol) and thermal camera monitors,” said Phivolcs.

Alert Level 3 means magmatic eruption has begun that may progress to further explosive eruptions.

Kanlaon Volcano  has been under tight watch since last week following several ash emission events.

The latest eruption came six months after a similar eruption on June 3, which placed the active volcano on Alert Level 2 or increasing unrest.

The June 3 eruption displaced more than 9,000 families from 18 villages in the five affected local government units composed of the cities of Bago and La Carlota and the municipalities of La Castellana, Moises Padilla and Pontevedra in Negros Occidental.

Residents in villages near the foot of Kanlaon were advised to wear masks for protection.

“All local government units are advised to evacuate the six-kilometer radius from the summit of the volcano and must be prepared for additional evacuation if activity warrants,” it added.