Kanlaon volcano erupts in the Philippines prompting mass evacuations

The Kanlaon volcano in the Philippines erupted on December 9, sending ash and gas up to 1.86 miles into the air. Authorities have begun evacuating 87,000 people from a 3.7-mile radius around the volcano. This eruption follows weeks of volcanic activity, including continuous gas emissions and numerous earthquakes. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has raised the volcano's alert level to 3, indicating a potential hazardous eruption. Kanlaon is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines, with its last eruption occurring on June 3, 2024. The current situation poses risks from pyroclastic flows, which can be unpredictable and dangerous.