Minor explosion seen at the crater of Kanlaon Volcano on Thursday afternoon, February 6, 2024, as captured by the IP camera. (Screenshot from a time-lapse video by Phivolcs/Facebook)
MANILA, Philippines — A minor explosion occurred at the crater of the Kanlaon Volcano on Thursday afternoon, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
In a Facebook post, Phivolcs said that the explosion happened at 3:11 p.m. and lasted for two minutes.
“The eruption generated a poorly visible plume that rose 600 meters above the vent before drifting southwest, scattering thin ashfall over Sto. Mercedes and San Luis, Brgy. Sag-ang, Negros Occidental,” Phivolcs stated.
The explosion also produced sulfurous fumes that were reported in several barangays in La Castallena.
Phivolcs added that “[b]ecause the eruption occurred during rainy weather, syn-eruption channel-confined lahars were immediately generated in the Buhangin River which flows through La Castellana and Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.”
The volcano, located between Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental, remains under Alert Level 3, indicating a magmatic unrest.
READ: Volume of sulfur dioxide spewed by Kanlaon doubles overnight
Further, Phivolcs’ Thursday monitoring indicated that 15 volcanic earthquakes were recorded.
The volcano also released 4,195 tons of sulfur dioxide on Wednesday, which is greater than the 1,962 tons it released the day before.
A moderate plume of 300-meter tall drifting westward was also observed.
The Kanlaon Volcano erupted last December 9, 2024, producing a voluminous plume that rapidly rose to 3,000 meters above the vent and drifted west-southwest.
READ: Mt. Kanlaon eruption: Building back safer
Phivolcs still prohibits flights within the vicinity of the volcano and warns of possible hazards such as sudden explosive eruption, lava flow, ash fall, rockfall, lahar during heavy rains, and pyroclastic flow.