MANILA, Philippines — Mount Kanlaon showed renewed signs of unrest Thursday morning after the volcano released a grayish ash plume that rose about 200 meters above its summit crater, while state volcanologists recorded four volcanic earthquakes during the latest 24-hour monitoring period.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the ash emission occurred at around 5:24 a.m. on August 20, based on observations from the Nature’s View Observation Station in Sitio Old Fabrica, La Castellana, Negros Occidental. The resulting plume rose approximately 200 meters before moving downslope toward the east.
The latest activity comes as Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 2, or Increased Unrest, meaning the volcano is exhibiting abnormal activity and remains capable of producing potentially hazardous volcanic events.
Four volcanic earthquakes recorded
PHIVOLCS’ 24-hour monitoring bulletin for August 20 recorded four volcanic earthquakes around Kanlaon.
The seismic activity adds to the continuing signs of unrest that have been observed around the volcano in recent months.
The latest development follows multiple ash-emission episodes recorded earlier in August. On August 15, PHIVOLCS reported several ash emissions, with grayish plumes reaching as high as 200 meters above the crater. That monitoring period also recorded seven volcanic earthquakes and five volcanic tremor episodes.
Kanlaon also released 1,386 tonnes of sulfur dioxide on August 19, according to a report citing the latest PHIVOLCS monitoring data.
Not yet a confirmed eruption
Despite the fresh ash emission, the latest event should not automatically be described as a new volcanic eruption.
PHIVOLCS has continued to classify Kanlaon’s condition under Alert Level 2 rather than declaring a new eruption. Previous activity this year, however, demonstrates why authorities continue to closely monitor the volcano.
Kanlaon produced a moderately explosive eruption on July 9, 2026, generating a dark-gray plume that rose approximately 2 to 3 kilometers above the crater. PHIVOLCS maintained Alert Level 2 after that event.
The volcano has also experienced significant eruptive activity earlier in 2026, including a moderately explosive eruption in February.
PHIVOLCS keeps 4-kilometer danger zone off-limits
With Alert Level 2 still in effect, PHIVOLCS continues to prohibit entry into the 4-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) surrounding Kanlaon.
Authorities have also warned aircraft operators against flying close to the volcano because of the potential hazards associated with sudden volcanic activity and ash emissions.
PHIVOLCS has previously warned that Kanlaon could produce sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions, as well as signs of renewed magmatic activity while the volcano remains at Alert Level 2.
Why the latest activity matters
For residents and communities around Kanlaon, the combination of recurring ash emissions and continued seismic activity is a reminder that the volcano remains unsettled.
Earlier PHIVOLCS advisories have noted that Kanlaon’s monitoring parameters—including seismicity, sulfur dioxide emissions and ground deformation—have reflected continuing volcanic unrest. A May advisory also warned that intensifying crater glow could signal increasing chances of magmatic unrest and could potentially prompt an escalation of the alert level.
For now, however, Alert Level 2 remains the official status.
The latest ash emission therefore serves as another warning for residents and visitors to remain vigilant, stay outside the Permanent Danger Zone and follow official advisories rather than relying on unverified reports circulating online.
Kanlaon is active, but the latest PHIVOLCS information does not indicate that a new major eruption has been declared.
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