Eruption Notification
Kanlaon Volcano
Phreatic Explosion
June 18, 2016
9:19 AM-9:46 AM 400m-1500m WNW grayish-white pic.twitter.com/2RCYN8XCjk

— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) June 18, 2016

MANILA (UPDATED) - Kanlaon volcano in Negros Island erupted on Saturday morning, spewing ash into the air, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Phivolcs said the phreatic explosion occurred at 9:19 a.m. and lasted until 9:46 a.m.

The 27-minute eruption produced a 400-1,500-meter grayish-white ash plume.

"So far, wala tayong nakikita (na magma), but hindi naman tayo tumitigil na mag-monitor," Phivolcs director Renato Solidum told radio dzMM.

The ash fall may affect villages west northwest of the volcano.

According to Solidum, they have received reports that the villages of San Miguel, Guintubdan and Ara-al in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental were affected by the ash fall.

Kanlaon volcano remains under alert level 1, which means it is in "a state of unrest" driven by hydrothermal processes that could generate more minor eruptions.

In its 8 a.m. advisory, Phivolcs said it has recorded three volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours.

The public is warned that entry to the volcano's 4-kilometer radius permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited.

Civil aviation authorities are also reminded to advise pilots not to fly close to the summit due to airborne ash. - With a report from Dennis Datu, dzMM