A volcano in central Philippines erupted in the evening, sending ash more than 2,500 meters high into the sky and beginning to drop ash over nearby communities, while authorities closely monitor the volcano's activity.
Foreign news agencies reported that the Kanlaon Volcano in central Philippines erupted on the evening of Thursday, 26 Feb 2025 local time, sending clouds of smoke and ash soaring approximately 2,500 meters into the night sky.
Teresito Bacolcol, director of the National Volcanology Office, told AFP the eruption lasted two minutes, starting at 19:04, and warned, "A stronger eruption may occur in the coming days."
Kanlaon Volcano is one of 24 active volcanoes in the Philippines and has erupted several times over the past century, including a major eruption in 1996 that killed three climbers near its summit.
"This is the second moderate eruption in a week," Bacolcol said in a phone interview, adding that authorities will closely monitor the volcano 24/7 before deciding whether to raise the alert level from 2 to 3 (out of 5).
The Volcanology Center later stated that the eruption produced a plume rising 2,500 meters above the crater, drifting southwest, and that glowing hot rocks were found falling around the crater rim.
John De Asis, a rescue officer in La Castellana town near Kanlaon Volcano, told AFP that ash has started falling over nearby communities.
"Tonight, suddenly we heard a loud boom, and within minutes people began reporting ashfall in their areas," De Asis said, emphasizing that rescue teams are rushing to distribute face masks to residents.
Kanlaon Volcano is situated between Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental provinces, prompting authorities to declare a 4-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano.
Source:cna