Since June 2024, there has been continuous volcanic activity at Mt. Kanlaon in Negros. Although the subject has been getting a fair amount of coverage, there seems to be less attention on it from the public in general. A quick scroll on whatever social media platform you are in would show more content on the wildfire raging in Los Angeles.
Here we provide a summary of what has happened so far with Mt. Kanlaon and in the communities affected by its ongoing volcanic activity.
Sourced from the Manila Bulletin’s reports, figures cited are from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Integrated Volcano Monitoring Network, and the local government of Negros Occidental.
June 2024
Phivolcs recorded the first eruption on June 3 at 6:51 p.m. A massive ash and gas plume reached up to 5,000 meters above the volcano’s summit. The eruption lasted around six minutes, preceded by a strong volcano-tectonic earthquake. Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs)—fast-moving clouds of gas, ash, and rock—flowed two to three kilometers down the volcano’s southern and southeastern slopes.
December 2024
Second eruption on Dec. 9, at 3:03 p.m, according to Phivolcs. It occurred without a precursory earthquake, unlike the June eruption. It was accompanied by infrasound signals, which are low-frequency sound waves typically produced by explosive volcanic activity.
Kanlaon produced another massive ash plume, rising 3,000 meters above the summit and drifting southwest. Pyroclastic flows were observed descending the southeastern slopes of the volcano. This eruption marked a significant shift in activity, as it was classified as magmatic—indicating the release of magma rather than just steam or gas.
2025
On Jan. 3, Phivolcs observed 27 volcanic earthquakes during its 24-hour monitoring period, from 12 a.m. on Friday to 12 a.m. on Saturday. Kanlaon Volcano remained under Alert Level 3, indicating intensified unrest or magmatic activity.
Phivolcs also noted that sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions were recorded at 5,840 tons per day on Jan. 3. A 750-meter tall plume was observed, attributed to continuous degassing, drifting northwest and west. Phivolcs has recommended evacuation from the six-kilometer radius around the volcano's summit.
January 4
Phivolcs measured 3,469 tons of sulfur dioxide released by the volcano.
January 5
Phivolcs reported a significant volcanic event at Kanlaon Volcano, which included an ash emission lasting 111 minutes over the past 24 hours. Phivolcs noted that the volcano continued to exhibit signs of activity, with frequent degassing and occasional ash emissions. In addition to the ash, 23 volcanic earthquakes were recorded, including three volcanic tremors that lasted between four and 111 minutes.
The active volcano in Negros continues to show elevated SO2 levels since its eruption on June 3, 2024.
January 8
Kanlaon Volcano emitted ash at 1:06 a.m. and 6:25 a.m., according to an advisory from the NDRRMC.
Phivolcs said Kanlaon Volcano’s emission of ash that lasted almost two hours, from 10:25 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., generated a plume that reached 500 meters above the summit crater. The ash plume drifted southwest, as recorded by the Integrated Volcano Monitoring Network at the Mansalanao, La Castellana station in Negros Occidental.
Damages and aid
On Jan. 4, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson disclosed that the ₱50-million assistance from the national government for Kanlaon Volcano evacuees would only last about a month and a half. The provincial government has yet to use the funds.
The provincial government is using its own budget. It is spending ₱1 million daily to provide two meals for around 10,000 evacuees.
According to the DSWD, 4,070 families or 13,246 individuals are still sheltered in evacuation centers due to the ongoing magmatic unrest at Kanlaon Volcano, as of Jan. 6. Based on the data from the DSWD-Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center, 34 evacuation centers remain operational. In addition, 2,351 families, or 7,458 people, have sought temporary shelter with friends or relatives outside the evacuation centers.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is looking for a long-term solution for residents living within the four-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone of Kanlaon Volcano.
LGUs in Negros Occidental are actively discussing the possibility of relocating residents within the danger zone of Kanlaon Volcano.