The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has advised the local government units in Negros to evacuate residents near the Kanlaon Volcano, following its “explosive eruption” on Monday afternoon, Dec. 9.
Phivolcs has raised the alert level of the volcano from 2 (increasing unrest) to 3 (magmatic unrest).
The eruption, which occurred at 3:03 p.m., produced a voluminous plume that rapidly ascended to 3,000 meters above the summit vent and drifted west-southwest.
Phivolcs said pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) descended the southeastern slopes, as detected by infrared and thermal camera monitors.
The agency warned that a magmatic eruption has begun, which could lead to further explosive eruptions.
Local government units have been urged to evacuate residents within the six-kilometer radius of the summit and to be prepared for additional evacuations if the situation worsens. (Ellalyn de Vera-Ruiz)
