AssetID: 54653007
Headline: RAW VIDEO: The Philippines' Mount Kanlaon Volcano Spectacularly Erupts
Caption: This incredible footage shows the Mount Kanlaon volcano in the central Philippines erupting on Tuesday morning (08April2025). The volcano sent a vast column of ash high into the sky, prompting warnings for residents and schools in the surrounding area. The volcano, which is located on the Negros Island, erupted at 5:51am local time on Tuesday (22:51 GMT on Monday), producing a towering ash plume that reached up to 4,000 metres above the summit and drifted to the southwest, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The eruption, which lasted nearly an hour and ended at around 6:47am, was described as “moderately explosive” and triggered pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) – fast-moving flows of hot gas and volcanic matter – down the southern slopes of the volcano. These were observed within one kilometre of the crater, within the municipality of La Castellana, Negros Occidental. Large volcanic fragments were hurled a few hundred metres around the crater, igniting vegetation near the summit. Ashfall was reported in several localities in Negros Occidental, including parts of La Carlota City, Bago City, and La Castellana. In some areas, residents also reported the strong odour of sulphur. Fortunately, many nearby communities had already been evacuated following an earlier eruption in December, which authorities say helped minimise immediate risk. Phivolcs noted that the eruption was preceded by a period of inflation of the volcano’s southeastern slope, starting in January, as well as a significant decline in sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions in recent months – signs of gas build-up and internal pressure. Emissions dropped from an average of over 4,000 tonnes per day in June 2024 to just 1,655 tonnes per day on Monday. Despite the dramatic nature of the eruption, there has been no significant increase in volcanic earthquakes or ground deformation since, and Alert Level 3 remains in place – indicating ongoing magmatic unrest. Authorities have warned that similar short-lived explosive eruptions may occur in the near term, and escalation to lava effusion is possible. Communities within a six-kilometre radius of the crater are advised have been evacuated due to the continued threat of pyroclastic flows, ballistic projectiles, rockfalls, ashfall, and other volcanic hazards. Local officials are being urged to prepare for further evacuations should the situation worsen. Heavy rainfall could also trigger lahars – fast-moving flows of volcanic debris – on the volcano’s slopes. Civil aviation authorities have been instructed to advise pilots to steer clear of the summit area due to the risk of ash damaging aircraft engines. Mount Kanlaon is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines, which lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" – a region of intense seismic and volcanic activity.
Keywords: feature,volcano,philippines,nature,natural world,natural disaster
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