The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that Kanlaon Volcano erupted at 7:33 a.m. on July 9, 2026, producing a dark ash plume that rose two to three kilometers above the crater before drifting eastward toward Cebu. The eruption lasted approximately three minutes.
Ashfall Reaches Cebu
Strong east-northeast winds carried the ash cloud across western and central Cebu, eventually reaching Metro Cebu, affecting communities over 100 kilometers from the volcano. In Toledo City, vehicles were coated with ash from the eruption.
Phivolcs also observed weak pyroclastic density currents descending the southeast slope of Kanlaon, possibly traveling up to one kilometer from the crater. The activity was recorded at the Upper Pantao Observation Station in Canlaon City.
Alert Level Maintained
Despite the eruption, Phivolcs maintained Alert Level 2 and reiterated the prohibition against entering the four-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone. The agency warned that ashfall could continue for several days depending on wind direction.
According to Dennis Pastor, head of the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), the western and mid-western towns of Cebu were most affected. “Based on reports, Toledo, Balamban, Pinamungajan and Aloguinsan are among the initially affected areas,” Pastor said during a PDRRMO command center briefing.
Class Suspensions Across 24 LGUs
To protect students and school personnel, 24 local government units (LGUs) suspended face-to-face classes. Affected areas include Toledo City, Balamban, Talisay City, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Minglanilla, Pinamungajan, Consolacion, Aloguinsan, Cordova, Liloan, Asturias, City of Naga, Compostela, Carcar City, San Fernando, Santa Fe, Tabuelan, Ronda, Barili, Dumanjug, Argao, and Pinamungajan.
In Cebu City, Mayor Nestor Archival ordered the suspension of classes in all public and private schools until further notice. Lapu-Lapu City also suspended classes and raised a Blue Alert Status, placing emergency responders on standby. Mandaue City suspended face-to-face classes and directed public schools to shift to distance learning. Consolacion suspended classes at all levels.
