The Kanlaon Volcano continues to be in a state of magmatic unrest, after a moderately explosive eruption at 2:55 AM on Tuesday, May 13.
The bulletin issued at 4:30 AM indicated that a “moderately explosive eruption” occurred at the summit crater of Kanlaon Volcano on Tuesday. According to PHIVOLCS, the volcanic event lasted five minutes, from 2:55 AM to 3 AM, based on seismic and infrasound data.
Moreover, PHIVOLCS said the event generated a greyish voluminous plume that rose approximately 3 kilometers above the vent before it drifted to the general west.
Audible rumbling sounds were also reported in Barangay Pula, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental and La Castellana, Negros Occidental.
“Incandescent pyroclastic density currents or PDCs descended the southern slopes within approximately 2 kilometers of the crater based on visual and thermal camera monitoring,” PHIVOLCS said in its bulletin. “Large ballistic fragments were also observed to have been thrown around the crater within a few hundred meters and caused burning of vegetation near the volcano summit.”
Meanwhile, thin ashfall was also reported in the following localities of Negros Occidental:
- La Carlota City - Barangays Yubo and Ara-al
- Bago City - Barangays Ilijan and Binubuhan
- La Castellana - Barangays Biak-na-Bato, Sag-ang, and Mansalanao
With this, Alert Level 3 prevails over Kanlaon Volcano. PHIVOLCS stated this means that there will be increased chances of short-lived, moderately explosive eruptions that could generate life-threatening volcanic hazards.
IP camera footage of 02:55 AM 13 May 2025 eruption of Kanlaon Volcano taken by the VKLM (Lower Masulog Observation Station). The eruption plume is obscured by clouds but incandescent pycroclastic density currents (PDC) visibly descended the southern slopes within 2 kms from the… pic.twitter.com/HChhLNQbRM
— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) May 12, 2025
PHIVOLCS Director Exclusive Interview
In an exclusive interview at Magandang Umaga Pilipinas on the same day, PHIVOLCS Director Dr Teresito Bacolcol said the agency released a public advisory on Monday, May 12, after several volcanic earthquakes.
He also clarified that they cannot label it as phreatic, and it is still classified as an explosive eruption.
“Yes, nasa Alert Level 3 pa rin tayo. Tulad nga kahapon, nakapagtala tayo ng halos more than 70 volcanic earthquakes. And for the past 24 hours, for Kanlaon Volcano, nakapagtala din po tayo ng more than 180 volcanic earthquakes,” he said.
Bacolcol also mentioned that 180 volcanic earthquakes were recorded between 12 AM on Monday and 12 AM today. He furthered that the continuous eruption has become a cycle for the volcano over the years.
“Hindi lang isang beses ‘yan, series of eruption [siya] tulad nung nangyari nung 2017, 2016, and 2015,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PHIVOLCS Director mentioned that some residents have been staying in the evacuation center for months now. Despite this, Bacolcol highlighted that their data is based on science and the parameters on Kanlaon volcano, indicating it determines the alert level status.
To ensure the public’s safety, PHIVOLCS advised that communities within a 6-km radius from the summit crater remain evacuated due to the danger of pyroclastic density currents or PDCs, ballistic projectiles, ashfall, rockfall, and other related hazards.
“Communities that experience ashfall must take all necessary precautions and use protective masks or wet cloth to prevent ash inhalation, with special attention given to vulnerable persons, including the elderly, persons with respiratory or cardio-vascular diseases, expecting mothers and infants,” PHIVOLCS said.
The agency advised local government units (LGUs) to aid communities living within the PDC hazard zone for subsequent evacuation, in case the unrest escalates further. Additionally, they advised the public to increase vigilance against the potential syn-eruption lahars and sediment-laden streamflows in the channels draining the edifice.
Meanwhile, PHIVOLCS also advised pilots to refrain from flying close to the volcano’s summit, as ash from sudden volcanic eruptions can be hazardous to aircraft.
