Mount Kanlaon erupts, forcing school closures in the Philippines
- Mount Kanlaon erupted, sending ash and debris into the sky, prompting school closures.
- Authorities suspended classes due to ashfall, affecting several villages in the region.
- Despite the eruption, local officials report that preparedness from previous events helped minimize risks.
Yesterday, a significant volcanic event occurred in the Philippines as Mount Kanlaon, located on Negros Island, erupted and produced a towering plume of ash that soared up to 4,000 meters above the summit. The eruption began at approximately 5:51 AM local time and lasted for nearly an hour, concluding at 6:47 AM. The ash cloud drifted southwestward, affecting several communities and prompting local authorities to implement precautionary measures. School classes were suspended in at least four villages as a result of the ashfall, highlighting the volcano's potential impact on local residents and the education system. The eruption follows a history of activity from Mount Kanlaon, which is recognized as one of the Philippines' most active volcanoes. While there were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) indicated that the area remains under careful surveillance due to the volcano's continued signs of unrest. Residents in the surrounding areas had already been evacuated following a previous eruption in December, which helped mitigate the risks associated with this latest event. Philippine chief volcanologist Teresito Bacolcol reassured the public that while alert level 3—indicating a high level of volcanic unrest—remains in effect, there were no accompanying signs such as a spike in volcanic earthquakes that would elevate the alert status to level 4 or 5, the latter indicating hazardous eruptions. Despite this, Bacolcol urged residents to stay vigilant and avoid areas within a 6-kilometer danger zone surrounding the volcano. As part of broader geological trends, the Philippines sits along the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' an area known for its seismic activity that makes the region particularly susceptible to volcanic eruptions. In the past, incidents involving Mount Kanlaon have led to serious evacuations and impacts on local communities, emphasizing the necessity for preparedness and responsiveness from both government officials and residents in the vicinity of the volcano.