Another moderately explosive eruption rocks Kanlaon Volcano a week after previous unrest
At A Glance
- Phivolcs said it will monitor Kanlaon Volcano for the next 24 hours after a moderately explosive eruption on Thursday, Feb. 26 to see if the alert level should be escalated.
- As of Thursday, the volcano remains under Alert Level 2, indicating increased unrest.
(Photo courtesy of Sam Pantalita)
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported a moderately explosive eruption that occurred at the summit crater of Kanlaon Volcano at 7:04 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26.
The eruption, which lasted two minutes, produced a dark plume that rose 2,500 meters above the crater before drifting southwest.
Incandescent ballistics were observed raining around the crater, while pyroclastic density currents descended the eastern and southeastern upper slopes within two kilometers of the summit.
The eruption was immediately followed by continuous ash emission, which persists as of posting time.
The latest activity comes a week after a previous moderately explosive eruption on Feb. 19, which lasted two minutes and generated a plume that rose 2,000 meters above the summit.
During that earlier event, pyroclastic density currents descended the southern and southwestern upper slopes within one kilometer of the crater, as captured by the Kanlaon Volcano Network’s IP cameras.
Phivolcs said it will assess monitoring data within the next 24 hours to determine whether the current alert status should be adjusted.
As of Thursday, the volcano remains under Alert Level 2, indicating increased unrest.
Phivolcs reiterated that entry into the four-kilometer-radius permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited.
Residents within the danger zone and communities near rivers and streams draining the volcano are urged to stay alert, particularly during heavy rainfall when lahars could occur.
Civil aviation authorities are also advised to avoid flying near the summit.