ILOILO City – Authorities have ordered the immediate suspension of all human activity within the six-kilometer extended danger zone (EDZ) surrounding Mount Kanlaon on Negros Island, as volcanic activity intensifies and the threat of another eruption looms.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6 released an advisory on Tuesday morning, May 27, announcing the suspension of entry into the EDZ between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m., citing the increased risk to residents and workers engaging in farming and livelihood activities within the high-risk area.
The suspension takes effect today, May 28, and will remain in force until further notice.
The move follows a new bulletin issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), which recorded 31 volcanic earthquakes within a 24-hour period, along with sulfur dioxide emissions reaching 1,020 tonnes per day (as of May 26) and continuous degassing that produced a 700-meter-high plume drifting northwest.
“Based on previous experiences, these parameters may be precursors to sudden eruptions,” the OCD warned in its advisory, urging strict compliance with the restrictions.
Mount Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 3, signifying magmatic unrest and an increased likelihood of short-lived, moderately explosive eruptions.
Phivolcs stressed that such events could generate pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), ballistic projectiles, ashfall, and rockfall — all potentially fatal hazards for anyone within the EDZ.
The alert comes two weeks after the volcano’s last eruption on May 13, which lasted five minutes and was described as moderately explosive.
Phivolcs reiterated that all communities within the 6-km radius should remain evacuated, and warned local governments to be prepared for worst-case scenarios, including larger explosive eruptions and lahar flows should intense rainfall occur.
Ashfall-affected areas are also advised to take precautions, especially vulnerable populations such as the elderly, people with respiratory conditions, pregnant women, and infants. Protective masks or damp cloths should be used to avoid inhaling volcanic ash.
Pilots are likewise warned to avoid flying near the summit, as volcanic ash poses serious risks to aviation safety./PN
