BACOLOD CITY – At exactly 7:04 p.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2026, Mount Kanlaon once again reminded Negrenses of its restless power. In a dramatic two-minute explosive eruption, the Philippines’ highest peak in the Visayas sent a towering ash plume 2,500 meters into the evening sky, marking the second moderately explosive event in just one week.
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According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the eruption lasted until 7:06 p.m., followed by continuous ash emission that persisted for more than an hour, ending at 8:18 p.m. Seismic and infrasound instruments captured the event, confirming a forceful but short-lived explosion from the summit crater.
The eruption produced dense gray ash that drifted southwest, blanketing several communities. Incandescent ballistic fragments — glowing rocks ejected from the crater — rained down around the summit. Meanwhile, pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), or fast-moving clouds of hot gas and volcanic material, cascaded along the eastern and southeastern slopes, reaching up to two kilometers from the crater. Authorities clarified that what residents witnessed were burning vegetation and superheated rocks, not flowing lava.
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Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 2, signifying moderate unrest. PHIVOLCS warns that sudden explosions, ashfall, rockfalls, ballistic projectiles, and rain-induced lahars remain possible. Entry into the 4-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is strictly prohibited.
The eruption’s impact was felt far beyond the mountain’s slopes. Ashfall, sulfuric odors, and even shockwaves were reported across at least 13 cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental, including Bago, La Carlota, San Carlos, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, La Castellana, Murcia, Binalbagan, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, Isabela, Pontevedra, and San Enrique.
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Heavy ashfall blanketed Sag-ang in La Castellana and Pandan in Pontevedra, while light to moderate ashfall affected parts of La Carlota, Himamaylan, and San Carlos. Even Kabankalan reported very light ash in 16 barangays. The distinct sulfuric smell reached communities as far as Hinigaran, where all 24 barangays reported its presence.
Residents in La Carlota, Himamaylan, Bago, and Binalbagan felt shockwaves, while weaker boom sounds were noted in La Castellana and San Enrique. As a precaution, 13 families from Barangays Ara-al and Yubo in La Carlota evacuated, with most staying in designated evacuation centers.
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Local governments swiftly suspended classes in multiple areas, including La Castellana, Hinigaran, Isabela, Binalbagan, and Himamaylan. Selected schools in Pontevedra, La Carlota, and Murcia also halted operations to ensure student safety.
The Department of Health–Negros Island Region (DOH-NIR) issued ashfall advisories, urging residents to wear face masks, safety goggles, and protective clothing. Vulnerable groups — including the elderly, children, pregnant women, and those with respiratory illnesses — were strongly advised to remain indoors. Officials recommended closing doors and windows, turning off air-conditioning units, and washing exposed skin thoroughly after ash exposure.
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Despite the intensity of the eruption, no casualties or major property damage have been reported so far. Still, authorities emphasize vigilance as Kanlaon continues its period of unrest.
For now, Negros watches and waits — resilient, alert, and prepared — beneath the shadow of a volcano that refuses to sleep.
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