A moderately explosive eruption occurred at Kanlaon Volcano on Thursday afternoon, February 19, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

In an advisory, PHIVOLCS said the eruption took place at 4:39 p.m. and lasted for two minutes based on seismic records.

“This event generated a dark gray eruption plume that rose 2,000 meters above the crater before drifting southwest,” the agency said.

State volcanologists also reported that pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), locally known as “uson,” descended along the southern and southwestern upper slopes of the volcano within one kilometer from the summit crater.

The PDCs were observed through the monitoring network’s IP camera.

PHIVOLCS said Alert Level 2 remains in effect over Kanlaon Volcano, indicating increasing unrest. Entry into the four-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is strictly prohibited.

Authorities continue to closely monitor the situation and advise residents and local government units to remain vigilant.