Bacolod city: The Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) has identified at least 12 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental being monitored after the moderately explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano Sunday night. The minute-long eruption started at 6:07 p.m. and was followed by two ash emissions at 6:09 p.m. and 10:31 p.m., the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in a report.

According to Philippines News Agency, it was the third event at Kanlaon Volcano this year after similar eruptions also took place on February 19 and 26, as Alert Level 2 remains hoisted over the volcano. "We're in close coordination with Phivolcs and coordinating with concerned LGUs for situation updates," OCD-NIR Director Donato Sermeno III, who also chairs the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), said.

As of 11 a.m. Monday, the RDRRMC reported that incidents monitored included ashfall, sulfuric smell, and forest fire in almost 60 barangays of the affected localities. Ashfall was felt in some barangays of the municipalities of Moises Padilla, La Castellana, Hinigaran, Binalbagan, Pontevedra, Isabela, and Ilog as well as the cities of Himamaylan and Kabankalan. Sulfuric smell was also reported in Moises Padilla, Don Salvador Benedicto, Bago City, San Carlos City while a forest fire was monitored in Sitio Mananawin, Barangay Masulog in La Castellana.

The latest eruption of Kanlaon Volcano also prompted the suspension of classes at all levels on Monday in Himamaylan City, Hinigaran, Binalbagan, La Castellana, Isabela, and Moises Padilla, as well as in two elementary schools in Pontevedra. In its report, the RDRRMC said the affected LGUs distributed face masks to their respective residents and conducted clearing and flushing operations in areas affected by ashfall.