Mount Kanlaon Erupts in Central Philippines: Ash Plume Reaches 2.5km as Officials Warn of Larger Blasts

Mount Kanlaon in the Philippines erupted on Feb 26, sending ash 2.5km high. PHIVOLCS warns of potential bigger eruptions in the coming days.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 26, 2026, 9:29 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Channel News Asia

A Sudden Nighttime Blast

The eruption began at 7:04 PM local time and lasted approximately two minutes. According to Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the event was characterized by a vertical plume that drifted southwest and the raining of "incandescent ballistics" (glowing volcanic fragments) around the crater. This marks the second significant activity in just one week, signaling a period of heightened unrest for the volcano located on Negros Island.

Pressure Building Beneath the Surface

Volcanologists believe the eruption was caused by a build-up of gas pressure at the volcano’s vent. Bacolcol noted that recent measurements showed a drop in sulfur dioxide emissions, which often indicates a blockage in the volcanic pipe. This blockage allows pressure to mount until it eventually clears the vent through an explosive release. Currently, the alert level sits at Level 2, but authorities are monitoring the peak 24/7 to determine if a move to Alert Level 3 is necessary.

Impact on Local Communities

Residents in the town of La Castellana reported hearing a loud "boom" followed by the smell of sulfur and the sight of falling ash. Local rescue teams are actively handing out facemasks to protect citizens from respiratory issues associated with volcanic ash. The 4km permanent danger zone (PDZ) is being strictly enforced, and aviation authorities have been advised to warn pilots against flying near the summit due to the risk of ash ingestion in jet engines.