Mt. Kanlaon, a stratovolcano on Negros Island, erupted at 7:33 a.m. on July 9, 2026, sending ash eastward and blanketing Toledo City, Cebu, with heavy ashfall. The event prompted the suspension of classes in all public and private schools and local government work on Thursday, with an extension through Friday, July 10.
Ashfall Disrupts Daily Life
Residents reported significant ash accumulation. Cecilia Alloros Halangdon, a senior citizen from Barangay Poblacion, described the ash on her jalousie windows as "quite black." She noted that the air was unpleasant to breathe, but wearing a face mask also made breathing difficult. Jeralyn Perales, a karinderya vendor, kept her small eatery closed that morning and covered her food to protect it from the dust. Both Halangdon and Perales said it was the first time they had experienced such heavy ashfall in Toledo, which lies across the Tañon Strait from Negros Island.
Eruption Details and Weather Factors
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that the eruption lasted three minutes and produced an ash plume that drifted eastward. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) noted that the southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat, was being enhanced by Typhoon Inday (international name: Bavi), which had weakened from a super typhoon before the eruption.
Safety Measures and Health Response
The Toledo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) advised residents to wear face masks outdoors and avoid unnecessary trips to reduce exposure to volcanic ash. CDRRMO officer Rhyan Ray Lazaga confirmed that no ashfall-related health emergencies had been reported as of Thursday. The Toledo City General Hospital activated a code white alert, placing medical personnel on standby to ensure continued services and immediate response to emergencies.
City Government Actions
The CDRRMO checked conditions in all 38 barangays to assess the extent of ashfall and determine if emergency assistance was needed. A team from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) visited Toledo City Hall on Thursday, providing an initial 100 pieces of N95 masks. PDRRMO supervising safety and emergency responder Kevin Anthony Sanchez explained that N95 respirators filter at least 95 percent of certain airborne particles when worn properly.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council convened an emergency meeting on Thursday afternoon, attended by Mayor Marjorie "Joie" Perales and representatives from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, City Health Office, City Veterinarian’s Office, and City Agriculture Services Office. The council decided to keep classes suspended on Friday, July 10. Mayor Perales advised residents with respiratory conditions to stay indoors and be monitored.
Air Quality Improvement
By Friday morning, the Environmental Management Bureau 7 reported that Toledo’s air quality had returned to the "good" category based on PM10 readings, indicating that the air contained only a small amount of dust and was generally safe to breathe.
