2024 Kanlaon eruption

On June 3, 2024, the Kanlaon Volcano in the central Philippines erupted, leading to the displacement of 1,386 families.

Kanlaon is an active volcano located at the boundaries of the provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental in the central Philippines. It is the most active volcano in the Visayas archipelago, with 30 eruptions since 1819.^[1]

On June 3, PHIVOLCS raised the alert level of Kanlaon from alert level 1 to alert level 2, indicating increasing unrest after an explosive eruption occurred on its summit vent at 6:51 p.m. PST. The eruption produced a voluminous and incandescent plume that rose 5,000 m (16,000 ft) above the vent and a probable short pyroclastic density current (PDC) of approximately 2-3 km down the south and southeastern slopes of the volcano. The eruption lasted for six minutes and was followed by a relatively strong volcanic earthquake. Sulfurous odors and ashfall were reported by communities on the western slope of the volcano,^[2] particularly in Bago, La Carlota, La Castellana and Canlaon,^[3] and as far as Bacolod, 85 km (53 mi) away.^[4] Particles from the volcano were deposited in the form of haze as far as the Bicol Region.^[5] On June 5, rains triggered lahar flows in La Castellana.^[6]

Evacuations were ordered in Canlaon for five barangays near the volcano^[3] and communities located along rivers flowing from the volcano,^[7][8] as well as in La Carlota and La Castellana. A mask mandate was also imposed in San Carlos.^[9] At least 4,752 people were displaced,^[10] while offices in Canlaon were ordered closed on June 4.^[11] Authorities in Negros Occidental were also placed on heightened alert, with ashfall warnings declared in Canlaon, La Carlota and La Castellana.^[12] At least 29 flights at Ninoy Aquino International Airport as well as in Iloilo, Cebu, Kalibo, Bacolod, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos and San Jose Airports were cancelled due to the eruption.^[13][14]

On June 4, several flights were cancelled and a mandatory emergency evacuation within a 3-kilometer radius was ordered.^[15] Canlaon Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas said that 23,622 residents of five barangays were affected.^[16]

The town of La Castellana lost P11,331,206.35 during the eruption, and the city of Canlaon lost P93,494,538.20.^[17] The eruption impacted the inflation rate from 4.1 percent to 4.3 percent after the eruption.^[18] 29 flights were cancelled during the eruption.^[13]

A state of calamity was declared in Canlaon and La Castellana.^[19] Around 23,000 hectares of sugarcane fields in Negros Island were affected by the eruption, while a curfew and water rationing was imposed in La Carlota and La Castellana due to sulfur contamination in regular sources.^[4][20] Damages in agriculture were estimated at ₱104.8 million, while 3,890.5 metric tons of crops were lost^[21] and at least 3,421 animals and livestock died.^[22]

On June 18, 2024, the town of La Castellana, Negros Occidental was given permission for more than 400 evacuees to return to their homes. Affected families were given food, hygiene kits, sleeping kits, kitchen kits, which was worth 26 million pesos, by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The city of Canlaon was given 2 million pesos in financial aid, and the town of La Castellana was given 1 million.^[17]

Increased activity was recorded by PHIVOLCS in September, starting with a series of volcano-tectonic earthquakes on September 9.^[23] On September 10, Kanlaon produced its highest volume of sulfur dioxide emissions since 2009, at 9,985 tonnes, prompting PHIVOLCS to raise concern over its possible first magmatic eruption since 1902.^[24] At least 248 people were evacuated in Canlaon.^[25] On September 11, Kanlaon emitted 11,556 tons of sulfur dioxide.^[26]