There was a loud explosion, the earth shook, and Kanlaon Volcano spewed fire and ash Thursday night, Feb. 26.
The moderately explosive eruption at the summit crater of Kanlaon Volcano occurred at 7:04 p.m. and lasted two minutes, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported.
But the volcano emitted ash from 7:04 p.m., to 8:18 p.m. that resulted in ashfall in La Castellana, La Carlota City, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Isabela, Kabankalan City, San Carlos City, Himamaylan City, and Binalbagan, Mari Andylene Quintia, PHIVOLCS volcanologist ,and the Negros Occidental Operations Center reported.
Bago City and Moises Padilla reported sulfuric smell in some barangays,
Numerous LGUs located near Kanlaon ordered the suspension of classes on Friday, while La Carlota City reported that some of its residents had evacuated.
The event generated a plume that rose 2,500 meters above the crater before drifting southwest, PHIVOLCS said.
Incandescent ballistics were observed to have rained around the crater while pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) descended the eastern and southeastern upper slopes within 2 kilometers of the summit crater, it added.
PHIVOLCS will be assessing the monitoring parameters within the next 24 hours for possible changes in the current Alert Level 2 status of the volcano.
GRASSFIRES
La Castellana Vice Mayor Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan said there were grassfires on the side of the volcano following the eruption, and ashfall has been reported in several hinterland barangays.
The grassfires were caused by ballistic projectiles from the volcano, Quintia said.
The La Carlota City government, in a Facebook post, assured residents that the glowing trails and fires visible on Kanlaon Volcano Thursday night were burning vegetation and superheated rocks, not lava flows.
CLASSES SUSPENDED
Canlaon City, Isabela, La Castellana, Himamaylan, Hinigaran, Binalbagan and Kabankalan City have suspended classes on Friday as a safety precaution following the eruption.
Classes in primary and secondary schools (public and private) in barangays Yubo, Ara-al, and San Miguel in La Carlota City are also suspended on Friday until further notice.
EVACUATION
Seven families (26 individuals) from Sitio Batacon, Brgy. Yubo in La Carlota City evacuated Thursday night, the City Social Welfare and Development Officer Angie Gelongo reported.*
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