Mount Kanlaon on the Philippines‘ central Negros island erupted Monday, sending a plume of hot ash and gases 3 kilometres into the sky and forcing nearby residents to evacuate.
Authorities raised the volcano’s danger level and ordered evacuations within a 6-kilometre radius of the crater.
Schools were closed and a nighttime curfew imposed as falling ash reduced visibility and raised health concerns in several villages.
“It sounded like a cannon”, said Canlaon city Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas, whose municipality lies southeast of the volcano.
“There have been quiet eruptions before, but this was one very loud”.
About 100 people had taken refuge in emergency shelters by nightfall, with officials expecting the number of displaced residents could exceed 2,000 due to the likelihood of further eruptions. No casualties have been reported.
(with information from AP)
