In brief
A recent eruption from Mount Kanlaon in the Philippines has prompted authorities to evacuate approximately 90,000 individuals, highlighting the ongoing risks posed by active volcanoes in the region.
The eruption of Mount Kanlaon on Negros Island occurred on Monday afternoon, sending a two-mile-high cloud of ash, lava, and large rocks into the atmosphere. In response to the significant threat, Philippine authorities implemented an evacuation order, urging residents to seek safety in designated shelters. Teresito Bacolcol, head of seismology at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, underscored the severity of the situation, stating, “This is very destructive and it can burn everything in its path, including vegetation, buildings, and humans. This can kill." As the eruption unfolded, the alert level around the volcano was elevated from 2 to 3, raising concerns about the possibility of more powerful explosive events in the days to come. The highest alert status is level 5, indicating extreme danger. Officials identified a danger zone stretching up to 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from the volcano, where nearly 47,000 people were residing in the town of La Castellana. To accommodate evacuees, Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City, capable of housing 30,000 individuals, was designated as the primary evacuation site, along with additional shelters established across eleven surrounding villages. The Philippines is home to approximately 100 volcanoes, with 24 classified as active, due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area renowned for its seismic activity. Mount Kanlaon has experienced over 40 eruptions since its first recorded activity in 1866, with the 1996 eruption claiming the lives of three hikers.
