Increased ash emission was recorded at Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island on Monday, December 23, 2024.

PHIVOLCS, in an advisory released at 12:30 p.m. on December 23, 2024, confirmed that Kanlaon Volcano emitted dark ash. 

“Since 11:45 a.m., dark ash has been issuing from the summit of Kanlaon Volcano accompanied by weak low frequency volcanic earthquake,” PHIVOLCS said. 

“This has produced a dark plume roughly 1.2 kilometers tall that is drifting to the northwest. Ash emission has been ongoing and ash fall is expected over communities of Negros Occidental northwest to west of the volcano. All other parameters of the volcano remains elevated but are generally unchanged,” PHIVOLCS added. 

The public is reminded that Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest) is raised over Kanlaon Volcano. This means that there are “increased chances for sudden and even stronger explosive eruptions to occur and endanger communities at risk with life-threatening volcanic hazards.”

Communities within a six-kilometer radius of the summit crater must remain evacuated due to the danger of pyroclastic density currents or PDCs, ballistic projectiles and ash fall, lava flows, rockfalls, and other related hazards. 

PHIVOLCS has reminded Local Government Units (LGUs)and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMCs) to monitor vigilantly the weather conditions in case heavy rainfall occurs and generates lahar and sediment-laden streamflows in channels draining the southern flanks of the volcano. Specifically, barangays of La Castellana and Canlaon City that have been impacted by PDCs, as well as barangays downstream of these LGUs, especially those that have experienced lahars and muddy streamflows in June 2024, could be affected by channel-confined lahar in case of heavy rains. 

Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft. 

“Lastly, LGUs and DRRMCs are advised to prepare communities within the DOST-PHIVOLCS Pyroclastic Density Currents Hazard Map for potential evacuation in case unrest further escalates and hazardous worst-case explosive eruption becomes imminent,” the advisory further said.

DOST-PHIVOLCS maintains close monitoring of Kanlaon Volcano and any new development will be communicated to all concerned stakeholders.