• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two ash emission events on January 7 at Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island lasted about eight hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) disclosed on Thursday.
It brings to five the number of ash emission events recorded by at Kanlaon Volcano since Jan. 3
The first ash emission event on Wednesday lasted one hour and 48 minutes, followed by another which was six hours and 21 minutes long, with plumes as high as 900 meters, with a voluminous emission that drifted towards a northwest direction. PHIVOLCS also logged four volcanic quakes.
Mari-Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist of PHIVOLCS Kanlaon Volcano Observatory in La Carlota City, said it signifies that the volcano is still on a restive period, adding that she expects more ash emission events.
Alert Level 2 remains in effect over Kanlaon Volcano, and entry to the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited by PHIVOLCS.
Prior to the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano in December last year, Quintia recalled that they also recorded numerous ash emission events.
PHIVOLCS recorded 30 ash emission events at Kanlaon Volcano in 2025.
Quintia further disclosed that ash emissions are usually a precursor to explosive eruption.
Despite the eight hour ash emissions recorded at Kanlaon Volcano, she reported that no ash fall was recorded by the different local government units around the volcano.
However, PHIVOLCS prohibits aircraft from flying close to the volcano.
Should Alert Level 3 be declared at Kanlaon Volcano, Quintia said the permanent danger zone is expected to be expanded to a six kilometer-radius.*
