MANILA — The moderate explosive eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on Thursday caused ashfall in about 41 barangays, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

In an interview with state-run media PTV on Friday, Phivolcs Director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol stated, “The plume drifted toward the southwest kaya may ulat na ashfall sa mga lugar kung saan dumaan ang hangin nung mga oras na ‘yun and may initial reports din mula sa disaster authorities na umabot ng 41 barangays ang naapektuhan ng ashfall.”

The eruption started at approximately 4:39 p.m., according to Phivolcs. The duration was two minutes. After a volcanic plume ascended 2,000 meters above the crater, there was a continuous 40-minute ash discharge.

Because of the growing unrest, Bacolcol stated Mt. Kanlaon was still at alert level 2.

Affected citizens were warned by the Phivolcs chief to heed authorities’ orders and refrain from engaging in outdoor activities.

According to Phivolcs, the dark gray plume produced by Thursday’s eruption moved southwest.

It stated that within a kilometer of the summit crater, pyroclastic density currents—a swift-moving mixture of hot gas, ash, and volcanic debris—came down from the volcano’s southern and southwestern upper slopes.

As a result, authorities in Negros Occidental issued a warning to locals to exercise caution around ashfalls and pyroclastic flows. As a precaution, Phivolcs had recommended wearing masks.

According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, 40 neighboring communities experienced ashfall and a sulfurous stench as a result of the eruption.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) stated that no precautionary evacuation was required at this time because the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) surrounding Kanlaon had already been evacuated of residents.

Communities in the Negros Occidental province of Bago City, Pontevedra, La Castellana, La Carlota City, Moises Padilla, Valladolid, and Hinigaran were affected by ashfall and a sulfuric smell.

La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, San Enrique, and Hinigaran, all in Negros Occidental, experienced a shockwave or vibration during the explosion.

There were no reports of ashfall in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.

After a massive eruption a month earlier, the Kanlaon Volcano last exhibited this behavior in May of last year.