The alert level for Mount Kanlaon in the Philippines was raised after an explosive eruption sent a plume of ash, gas, and rocks 5km into the sky. The eruption lasted for six minutes and nearby residents were warned to wear facemasks due to the threat of volcanic gases and falling ash. The eruption was described by witnesses as producing a thunder-like sound and a fire on the mouth of the volcano. Despite this, there were no reports of lava or rocks coming out.
The Philippines is part of the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire”, home to more than half of the world’s volcanoes. Kanlaon is one of 24 active volcanoes in the country. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level from one to two on a scale of zero to five after observing an explosive eruption that produced a voluminous and incandescent plume, rising to 5,000m above the vent. The agency also noted probable short avalanches of volcanic ash, rock, and gases, known as pyroclastic density currents, on the slopes of Kanlaon.
Authorities in San Carlos municipality planned to evacuate about 500 families from homes nearest to the volcano as soon as possible. Rescue officials deployed a team for the initial evacuation and provided face masks to residents due to the strong smell of sulfur in the area. Pilots were warned to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from a sudden eruption could be hazardous to their aircraft. Eruptions can be deadly, with pyroclastic flows, lahar flows, and ashfall posing hazards to communities surrounding the volcano.
Pyroclastic flows are scalding mixtures of rocks and ash that speed down a volcano’s slopes, burning everything in their path. Lahars are mammoth flows of volcanic debris unleashed by heavy rain, which can bury villages. Heavy ashfalls from eruptions can also cause roofs of houses to collapse and gum up jet engines. The most powerful volcanic explosion in recent Philippines history was the 1991 eruption of Pinatubo, which killed over 800 people and was about 100km from Manila. The eruption of Kanlaon serves as a reminder of the constant threat that volcanic activity poses to the Philippines and the importance of being prepared for potential eruptions.
