The moderately explosive eruption at Kanlaon Volcano on Sunday night triggered an estimated 65 hectares of forest and grassland fires, while ash and sulfuric odor hit 92 barangays across Negros.
The eruption, which began at 6:07 p.m., lasted only a minute but emitted ash for 3 hours and 49 minutes, Mari Andylene Quintia, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) resident volcanologist stationed in La Carlota City, said.
Kanlaon also had moderately explosive eruptions on February 19 and 26, and remains under Alert Level 2.
Quintia said the fires on the slopes of the volcano were triggered by ballistic projectiles or pyroclastic density currents from the eruption.
The fires died out at about 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. Monday, she said.
The fires hit an estimated 20 hectares of forest land and 45 hectares of grassland within the volcano’s 4-kilometer danger zone, Philip Lechoncito, parks operation superintendent of the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park, said on Monday.
Lechoncito said the fires hit Brgy. Masulog in Canlaon City and Barangay Biak na Bato in La Castellana.
He said although the fires died out, pockets of smoke could be seen from a distance.
Some of the trees hit by the fire are believed to be old-growth trees, but they are unable to inspect the area as it is a danger zone and Kanlaon is still unstable, Lechoncito said.
They would instead conduct a drone survey, he added.
Ash fall and sulfuric smell from the eruption affected 90 barangays in 11 local government units in Negros Occidental, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported Monday.
The affected LGUs are La Castellana, Moises Padilla, San Carlos City, Hinigaran, Don Salvador Benedicto, Isabela, Binalbagan, Himamaylan City, Pontevedra, Kabankalan City, and Ilog.
Ash fall also hit barangays Masulog and Pula in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, Seth Bariga, the city’s information officer, said.
Seven Negros Occidental LGUs—Binalbagan, Himamaylan City, Hinigaran, Isabela, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, and La Castellana—suspended classes on Monday.*
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