A viral Facebook post by a resident from Sitio Mananawin, Brgy. Masulog, Canlaon City shows thick volcanic ash covering a vehicle on the morning of November 5, 2024. The ashfall was caused by Mount Kanlaon’s recent volcanic activity, prompting local authorities to issue warnings early in the day for Negros residents to wear masks and stay alert. The volcano, known for its intermittent eruptions, is currently emitting significant amounts of volcanic ash and gas.
Mount Kanlaon, a highly active volcano on Negros Island, has been showing signs of unrest for several months. This morning alone, authorities recorded eight volcanic earthquakes, with a sulfur dioxide (SO2) flux of approximately 4,768 tonnes per day. Plume emissions reached 900 meters high, with ash drifting southwest. Ground deformation measurements indicate that the volcano’s structure is currently inflated, signaling a potential build-up of magma beneath the surface.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the Alert Level to 2 on June 3, 2024, following a moderately explosive eruption that evening. This event, recorded as an E-type earthquake, lasted six minutes and produced a towering eruption plume reaching five kilometers high. The eruption was documented by all ten seismic stations of the Kanlaon Volcano Network, along with three infrasound and two visual monitors.
Thermal cameras captured the descent of pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) on Kanlaon’s southern slopes, extending two to three kilometers from the crater. Incandescent ballistic fragments from the eruption rained down the slopes, posing significant hazards to nearby communities. Residents in La Castellana, La Carlota City, and Canlaon City reported hearing rumbling sounds during the eruption. Coarse ashfall was observed in various barangays in these areas, as well as in Bago City, while sulfur odors spread across several localities, including the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory in La Carlota City and as far as Bacolod City.
Authorities are closely monitoring Mount Kanlaon’s activity for further signs of a major eruption, though it remains uncertain when such an event might occur. In the meantime, PHIVOLCS continues to advise residents within the vicinity to stay vigilant and prepared for potential volcanic hazards.