A powerful eruption of Mount Kanlaon in the central Philippines on Monday sent ash and hot gases soaring nearly 2 miles into the sky, prompting evacuations, school closures and a curfew in surrounding areas.
While no injuries were immediately reported, volcanic ash blanketed nearby villages and significantly reduced visibility, complicating transport and raising health concerns.
Authorities raised the alert level, warning of the potential for further hazardous volcanic activity. Officials ordered evacuations for those living within a 6-kilometer radius (nearly 4-mile) of the volcano's crater as emergency shelters began filling.
A time-lapse video posted to X by the country's seismological agency showed the huge plume of ash bursting from the volcano.
An explosive eruption is currently occurring at the summit vent of Kanlaon Volcano that began at 5:51 AM today, 8 April 2025. The eruption is producing a voluminous bent plume approximately 4,000 meters tall that is drifting southwest. Pyroclastic density currents or PDCs… pic.twitter.com/eFXChTMuIE
— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) April 7, 2025
Why it Matters
Mount Kanlaon is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines, a country situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where seismic and volcanic activity is common.
The eruption adds to the compounding natural threats faced by the archipelago, which also contends with up to 20 tropical storms and typhoons annually.
What to Know
Mount Kanlaon, located on Negros Island and standing 2,435 meters (7,988 feet) tall, last erupted in December, prompting similar evacuations.
Monday's eruption, which began in the mid-afternoon, lasted over six minutes and sent an ash plume approximately 3 kilometers into the air, the Philippines' Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said.
PHIVOLCS raised the danger status to Alert Level 3 on its five-tier scale. This level signifies that a magmatic eruption is underway and could escalate into more powerful explosions.
The agency confirmed the eruption generated a pyroclastic density current—a fast-moving stream of superheated ash, debris and gases capable of destroying everything in its path.
Ashfall affected at least 14 villages in Canlaon, with residents reporting breathing difficulties and limited visibility on the roads.
In response, local authorities suspended classes and imposed a nighttime curfew to minimize exposure to volcanic ash and facilitate emergency operations.
The Department of Health warned residents to stay indoors and wear masks, citing the potential for respiratory problems.
Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas said about 100 people had taken shelter by nightfall, but warned the number could surpass 2,000 if eruptions intensify.
Cardenas said authorities had begun distributing face masks and water supplies to evacuation centers. "We are now assessing the needs of the affected families and coordinating with provincial and national agencies for support," he said.
PHIVOLCS has urged residents to avoid river channels where volcanic materials may accumulate, warning that heavy rain could trigger lahars—destructive volcanic mudflows.
The agency is closely monitoring seismic activity to assess whether more eruptions are likely in the coming days.
What People Are Saying
Canlaon Mayor Cardenas told the Associated Press: "It sounded like a cannon. There have been quiet eruptions before, but this was one very loud."
Resident Maria Therese Villanueva told DZRH radio: "It's difficult to breathe outside because of the ash. We had to close all the windows and doors and use wet rags to block the gaps."
PHIVOLCS director Teresito Bacolcol confirmed to local media that "there is an increased likelihood of further explosive eruptions, hence the heightened alert level and evacuation advisories."
What's Next
Authorities said they are bracing for the possibility of prolonged volcanic activity.
