Another ash emission was recorded at Kanlaon Volcano on Saturday, Feb. 15, signaling persistent activity, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
The agency said that the eruption, which occurred at 5:55 p.m., lasted four minutes, further confirming the volcano’s unrest.
Per Phivolcs, the latest activity generated a grayish ash plume that rose 700 meters above the summit crater before drifting west-northwest.
This follows an earlier eruption at 2:32 p.m., when Kanlaon spewed ash for eight minutes.
The first eruption sent an ash plume 1,500 meters above the summit, with ashfall reported in multiple barangays of Bago City, Negros Occidental, including Abuanan, Binubuhan, Dulao, Ilijan, Ma-ao, and Mailum.
Phivolcs reiterated that Alert Level 3 remains in effect over Kanlaon Volcano, indicating heightened unrest and the potential for a hazardous eruption.
The agency continues to urge the public to stay away from the four-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) due to risks of sudden explosions, rockfalls, and pyroclastic density currents.
Phivolcs has advised residents near Kanlaon Volcano to take necessary precautions, as ashfall could impact nearby communities.
Exposure to volcanic ash can pose health risks and disrupt daily activities, it added.
Meanwhile, civil aviation authorities have cautioned pilots to avoid flying near the summit due to the presence of airborne volcanic ash, posing a risk to aircraft engines and visibility.