The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reports that Mount Kanlaon on Negros island erupted on Monday evening, forcing over 800 people to be evacuated.
After spewing a five-kilometer plume of ash, gas, and boulders into the air, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) upgraded the alert for Kanlaon to Level 2, indicating growing unrest.
796 people had left their houses, according to a report released by the NDRRMC on Tuesday. The majority of them were taking temporary shelter in evacuation facilities.
With the possibility of more explosive eruptions or potentially dangerous magmatic eruptions, PHIVOLCS has cautioned the public to stay away from the four-kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) in order to reduce the risk of landslides, rockfall, and abrupt explosions.
A further warning to pilots is to stay away from flying near the volcano’s summit since any rapid eruption could produce ash that could endanger their aircraft.
One of the 24 active volcanoes in the Philippines is Kanlaon, which is located in the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.
The Negros Oriental province government triggered the province Disaster Reduction and Management Cluster (PDRRMC) to address the emergency following the eruption.
The PDRRMC Emergency Operations Center was placed on Blue Alert simultaneously by the Negros Occidental province administration.
PHIVOLCS announced on Tuesday that it had discovered 43 volcanic earthquakes in Kanlaon.
Situated inside the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is home to more than half of the world’s volcanoes.
