Mount Kanlaon, a volcano located in the central Philippines, erupted on Monday night, sending a plume of ash and steam into the sky. The explosion forced more than 700 people to flee to evacuation camps in Canlaon, a city located south of the volcano. Authorities raised the alert level to two, indicating a moderate level of volcanic unrest. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reported that nearly 800 individuals from 170 families were evacuated to safety.
The eruption prompted the closure of resorts in the area to prevent potential injuries. Police enforced a no-entry regulation in a 4-kilometer permanent danger zone around the volcano. Teresito Bacolcol of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology stated that the eruption scattered ash up to 10 kilometers away. It remains uncertain if the volcano’s activity will worsen or settle down.
The Philippines is known to be disaster-prone, located in the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and frequently hit by typhoons, storms, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. Mount Kanlaon, one of the country’s 24 most active volcanoes, has erupted several times in recent decades. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of nearby residents and prevent further damage.
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