On Monday evening, residents near Kanlaon Volcano witnessed a startling sight as its peak illuminated moments before erupting in a spectacular display that lit up the night sky “like fireworks.”
In a report by Ian Cruz for 24 Oras on Tuesday, amateur footage captured the dramatic scene, showing a red glow covered by thick smoke piercing through the darkness. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) recorded the event in a timelapse video, which showed the volcano’s continuous eruption accompanied by loud explosions.
The eruption resulted in ash fall across nearby communities, including Barangay Cabagnaan in La Castellana, where roads, cars, vegetation, and houses were blanketed in ash. Residents described the ash that made contact with their skin as feeling similar to cement.
PHIVOLCS reported that Kanlaon emitted plumes rising 5 kilometers into the atmosphere. The ash fall and sulfuric smell affected several areas, including La Castellana, La Carlota City, Bago City, Canlaon City, Murcia, and Bacolod City.
In response, the Philippine Coast Guard has placed its deployable response groups and rescue assets in Western Visayas on standby to assist local government units affected by the eruption. The Canlaon local government declared the city under a state of calamity, noting the significant impact on the economic living conditions of the residents, particularly farmers.
“There is a need for the local government to exert necessary measures to address and cushion the impact of the volcano eruption,” read the resolution from Canlaon.
PHIVOLCS described the event as an explosive eruption. Historical data from GMA Integrated News indicates that Kanlaon Volcano previously erupted on June 3 in the years 2003, 2006, and 2024.
The institute is also monitoring the potential effects of rainfall on the volcano. Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. warned that downpours could trigger muddy floods, sediment-laden flows, or lahar.