Moderately explosive eruption occurred at Mount Kanlaon crater — PHIVOLCS

A moderately explosive eruption occurred at the summit crater of Mount Kanlaon early Tuesday morning, the PHIVOLCS reported.

The explosion occurred at 2:55 a.m. and lasted for five minutes based on seismc and infrasound data.

"The eruption generated a grayish voluminous plume that rose approximately 4.5 kilometers above the vent before drifting to the southwest," the agency reported.

The residents of Barangay Pula, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental and La Castellana, Negros Occidental said that they heard rumbling sounds of the eruption.

"Incandescent pyroclastic density currents or PDCs descended the southern slopes with approximately two (2) kilometers of the crater based on visual and thermal camera monitoring," PHIVOLCS reported.

"Large ballistic fragments were also observed to have been thrown around the crater within a few hundered meters and caused burning of vegetation near the volcano summit," the agency said.

Thin ashfall was observed in the following areas in Negros Occidental:

La Carlota City - Barangays Cubay, San Miguel, Yubo, and Ara-al

Bago City - Barangays Ilijan, Binubuhan

La Castellana - Barangays Biak-Na-Bato, Sag-ang, Mansalanao

Phivolcs also said Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest) remains over Kanlaon with currently increased chances of short-lived moderately explosive eruptions that could generate life-threatening volcanic hazards.

The public was reminded that the six-kilometer radius from the volcano's summit should remain evacuated.

Phivolcs recommends that communities within the 6-kilometer radius remain evacuated. Communities affected by ashfall should weat protective masks or wet cloth to prevent inhalation, with special attention to vulnerable groups such as senior citizens persons with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases. — BAP, GMA Integrated News