By Glazyl M. Jopson and Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – Ashfall from Kanlaon Volcano’s significant ash emission on Saturday afternoon affected Barangay Mailum in Bago City, Negros Occidental.
Residents posted photos of the ashfall on social media after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported an ash emission from the summit crater at 2:32 p.m. The event lasted about eight minutes, producing a grayish plume that rose 1,500 meters before drifting west.
Phivolcs warned residents of Barangay Mailum, as well as parts of Barangays Maao, Binubuhan, Abuanan, Dulao, Atipuluan, and Ilijan, of potential ashfall. A sulfuric odor was also reported in Barangay Bacong.
Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo urged residents, particularly those in Barangay Mailum and nearby areas, to take precautions.
“Please keep your face masks on, stay indoors when possible, and keep emergency supplies ready,” Yulo said in a Facebook post.
He assured residents that the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management teams are closely monitoring the situation to ensure public safety.
The latest ash emission occurred nine days after a minor eruption on Feb. 6, which affected three sitios in La Castellana town.
Before Saturday’s activity, sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions were recorded at an average of 2,625 tons per day, lower than the medium-term average of 4,440 tons per day since the June 3, 2024, eruption. Degassing from the summit crater has remained weak since Feb. 6.
In the past 24 hours, Phivolcs recorded 29 volcanic earthquakes, including one volcanic tremor. Ground deformation monitoring showed inflation on the volcano’s eastern upper slopes since Jan. 10, 2025, while inflation-deflation cycles have been recorded on the western upper and eastern middle slopes.
Phivolcs explained that this ground deformation likely results from periodic plugging and unplugging of the volcanic conduit, affecting degassing and eruptive activity.
Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3, meaning magmatic unrest could trigger further ash emissions or even short-lived explosive eruptions.
Communities within a six-kilometer radius of the summit crater must remain evacuated due to risks of pyroclastic density currents, ballistic projectiles, ashfall, and rockfall.
Phivolcs also warned of possible lahar flows if heavy rains occur during this period of unrest.
Local government units were urged to remain prepared for further evacuations should the volcanic activity escalate.
Civil aviation authorities advised pilots to avoid flying near the volcano’s summit due to the risk of ash hazards.
Phivolcs continues to monitor Kanlaon Volcano and will provide updates as necessary. (Other photos courtesy of Bago CDRRMO and Ruel Cadigal)