Mass Evacuation of Philippine Villages Underway After Brief but Major Volcanic Eruption

An explosive eruption occurred at the summit vent of Kanlaon volcano, as seen from Mansalanao, Negros Occidental Province, Philippines, on Dec. 9, 2024. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology via AP

MANILA, Philippines—About 87,000 people were being evacuated in a central Philippine region Tuesday a day after a volcano briefly erupted with a towering ash plume and superhot streams of gas and debris hurtling down its western slopes.

The latest eruption of Mount Kanlaon on central Negros island did not cause any immediate casualties, but the alert level was raised one level, indicating further and more explosive eruptions may occur.