By Mary Judaline Partlow

MAGMATIC ERUPTION. Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island erupts again on Monday (April 14, 2025), spewing ash up to 800 meters high from the summit crater. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said it is expecting a major eruptive event due to the closer intervals between the volcano’s eruptions. (Photo courtesy of Negros Oriental PDRRMO)

DUMAGUETE CITY – Mt. Kanlaon erupted again on Monday and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said “a highly explosive eruption” is likely due to the shorter intervals between the recent episodes.

Mariton Bornas, head of Phivolcs’ Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, told the Philippine News Agency that given the monitoring parameters and if there is no significant change, “we might end up with a lava eruption or a highly explosive eruption.”

“Itong mga eruptions ngayon ay pasakalye lang (The current eruptions are just a prologue). The major eruptions that we are seeing are taking place in shorter intervals now,” she said.

According to Bornas, Mt. Kanlaon emitted ash plume of about 800 meters high at around 11:52 a.m. and lasted until 2:12 p.m. It was magmatic because “new material was being spewed into the air.”

She added that since Oct. 19 last year, Mt. Kanlaon had more than 300 events, including phreatic and magmatic eruptions.

Alert Level 3, signifying magmatic unrest, remains hoisted over at Mt. Kanlaon. (PNA)