Up to 50 barangays in 10 local government units near the Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island have been affected by ash fall following the volcano’s moderately explosive eruption early evening on March 15, 2026.

These LGUs include the towns of Binalbagan, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, Isabela, Pontevedra, and Ilog, and the cities of San Carlos, Himaymaylan, and Kabankalan.

The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) continues to monitor the situation to know if the ash fall will affect more areas.

At least five LGUs have suspended classes on Monday, March 16.

PDRRMO Negros Occidental Head Irene Bel Ploteña advised residents in areas affected by the ash fall to wear masks to avoid illnesses.

“In case may ara sang ashfall nga ma experience sa ila mga communities nga mag wear gid sila sang ila nga facemask. Because It would also help to protect sa ila health,” she told GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas.

Part of the volcano also reportedly caught fire following the eruption.

PHIVOLCS continues to monitor activity at the volcano, which remains under Alert Level 2.

The eruption on March 15 was the third in the first quarter of 2026 following the eruptions on February 19 and 26.

The most recent activity generated a kilometer-high eruption column that drifted southwest.