MANILA, Philippines — The recent eruption of Mount Kanlaon in the Philippines sent a towering cloud of hot ash and gases soaring up to 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) into the atmosphere, compelling local residents to seek immediate refuge. The eruption, which occurred on Monday, has not yet reported any casualties; however, local authorities were prompted to close educational institutions and enforce a night curfew after ash falling over several communities reduced visibility for drivers and raised health concerns among the populace.
“It resembled the sound of cannon fire,” remarked Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas of the nearby city of Canlaon in a phone interview, describing the event. “Previous eruptions have been relatively quiet, but this particular one was exceptionally loud.”
In response to the heightened risk of volcanic activity, disaster management officials elevated the danger alert around Mount Kanlaon. They ordered the evacuation of residents living within a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) radius of the crater. By nightfall following the afternoon eruption, approximately 100 individuals had sought shelter in evacuation centers in Canlaon. Officials anticipate that the number of displaced persons may exceed 2,000 if the risk of further eruptions increases.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that the eruption had created a pyroclastic density current, a devastating flow of superheated ash, debris, and rocks capable of causing destruction in its path. The alert level for Mount Kanlaon has reached three on a five-tier warning scale, signifying that a magmatic eruption has commenced and may lead to more explosive activity in the future.
Mount Kanlaon, standing at 2,435 meters (7,988 feet), is one of 24 active volcanoes in the country and last erupted in June, necessitating the evacuation of several hundred residents at that time. The Philippines lies within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area characterized by frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and is also hit by around 20 typhoons and storms annually, making it one of the nations most susceptible to natural calamities.
