MANILA (Xinhua): Mount Kanlaon Volcano in the central Philippines erupted just over noon Saturday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.
According to the institute, a "moderately explosive eruption" occurred at Mount Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island at 12:46 pm local time Saturday. The eruption lasted for about two minutes.
The institute said the event generated a plume that rose 5 km to 6 km above the crater. The ashfall is expected to drift north and northeast.
Alert Level 2 is maintained over Mount Kanlaon volcano, with Level 5 the highest in scale.
The Philippine archipelago straddles the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. -- Xinhua
