Watch: Mount Kanlaon erupts in Philippines, spews 4 km ash plume, forces school closures

Mount Kanlaon, a volcano in the Philippines, erupted on Negros Island in the central part of the country on Tuesday. The eruption began shortly after dawn and lasted for more than an hour, releasing a plume of ash and debris that reached 4 kilometres (2.4 miles) into the sky.As a result, ash fell in at least four farming villages southwest of the volcano, leading authorities to cancel school classes in those areas to protect residents from the falling ash.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the agency monitoring volcanic activity, reported that no one was hurt and no property was damaged during this eruption. However, the volcano has been active recently. In December, Mount Kanlaon erupted, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes.

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Many of those evacuees were still living in emergency shelters on Tuesday because the volcano continued to show signs of activity, according to the Office of Civil Defense, which coordinates disaster response efforts.

Teresito Bacolcol, the chief volcanologist at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, spoke to The Associated Press about the situation. He explained that the alert level for Mount Kanlaon remains at 3 out of 5, which indicates a “high level of volcanic unrest.”

Bacolcol said there were no major signs, such as a sudden increase in volcanic earthquakes, that would justify raising the alert to level 5, the highest level, which means a “hazardous eruption is in progress.”

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At 5:51 a.m., producing a 4,000-meter-high ash plume to the southwest and pyroclastic flows on the southern slopes. Alert Level 3 remains in effect. pic.twitter.com/VK27fYV969

— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) April 8, 2025

Still, he warned, “The possibility of a bigger eruption is always there,” and encouraged people to stay cautious and keep away from a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) danger zone around the volcano.

Mount Kanlaon stands at 2,435 meters (7,988 feet) tall and is one of the 24 most active volcanoes in the Philippines. It has a history of eruptions, including one in 1996 when it erupted without warning, killing three hikers near the summit and requiring the rescue of several others.

The Philippines lies in the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area around the Pacific Ocean known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. The country also faces about 20 typhoons and storms each year, making it one of the most disaster-prone nations in the world.

(With input from agencies)