Screengrab from Phivocs

Early this morning, Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island decided to stir up some action again. At 2:55 a.m. on Tuesday, a “moderately explosive” eruption took place at the summit crater, as reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The eruption lasted just five minutes but was enough to send a thick, gray plume rising a whopping 3 kilometers into the sky.

The volcanic activity also caused ashfall in several areas of Negros Occidental. Affected localities include parts of La Carlota City, like the villages of Cubay, San Miguel, Yubo, and Ara-al; Bago City, especially Barangays Ilijan and Binubuhan; and La Castellana, including Biak-na-Bato, Sag-ang, and Mansalanao. People in these areas are reporting thin layers of ash covering surfaces, and the rumbling sounds of the eruption could be heard all the way in Barangay Pula in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, as well as La Castellana.

But the eruption wasn’t just a light show. It produced pyroclastic density currents (PDCs)—which is a fancy way of saying hot gas and volcanic debris that rush down the volcano’s slopes at high speeds. These PDCs traveled about two kilometers from the crater, posing a serious hazard. If you’ve heard the term “lava flow,” think of PDCs as a much more dangerous, faster-moving cousin.

On top of that, large ballistic fragments were ejected from the volcano, flying a few hundred meters around the crater. Some of these fragments were hot enough to set vegetation on fire near the summit. Talk about a fiery eruption!

As of now, Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest) is still in effect, which means the volcano could continue to have moderate eruptions, and there’s an increased risk of more dangerous volcanic events. Phivolcs is urging people in the area, especially those within a 6-kilometer radius of the summit, to stay evacuated. That’s because of the threat of PDCs, ballistic projectiles, ashfall, and rockfall.

If you’re in an area experiencing ashfall, it’s important to take precautions. The advisory is to wear protective masks or use a wet cloth to cover your nose and mouth. Vulnerable groups like the elderly, people with respiratory or heart issues, pregnant women, and infants should be extra careful.

Phivolcs also suggests that local authorities keep preparing for possible evacuations, especially if the situation worsens and the volcano becomes more explosively active.

And, just in case you were planning to fly nearby, aviation authorities have issued warnings to pilots. Ash clouds from the volcano can be extremely hazardous to aircraft, so they’re advising people to stay well clear of the summit.

Finally, if there’s heavy rain in the coming days, there’s also the risk of lahars—mudflows caused by volcanic activity. Authorities are keeping a close watch on streams and channels that drain the volcano to make sure they don’t get clogged with ash and debris, which could make the flows even more dangerous.

So, as Kanlaon shows us once again that it's still active, authorities and locals are on high alert. Keep an eye on the situation and stay safe, especially if you're in the nearby areas!