🌋VolcanoAtlas

Kanlaon

The Highest Peak of Negros Island

Elevation

2,422 m

Last Eruption

2025

Type

Stratovolcano

Country

Philippines

Location

Loading map...

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskHigh
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity1 years agoVery RecentCurrently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Active
Recent volcanic activity detected. Continuous monitoring in place.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

All Philippines Volcanoes
Explore by country
Stratovolcano Volcanoes
By volcano type
Central Visayas
Regional volcanoes

Other Volcanoes in Philippines

Interesting Facts

🌋

Kanlaon has produced 33 recorded eruptions since 1866, making it one of the most frequently active volcanoes in the Philippines.

🌋

The volcano generated the largest debris avalanche known in the Philippines, with a runout distance of 33 km to the southwest.

🌋

The June 2024 eruption reached VEI 3, the most powerful eruption in Kanlaon's modern record and a significant escalation from its typical phreatic events.

🌋

Between 1969 and 1996, Kanlaon erupted at least 16 times — averaging more than one eruption every two years.

🌋

Over 100,000 people live within 15 km of Kanlaon's summit, including the city of Canlaon on the eastern flank.

🌋

The summit features both a 2 km-wide caldera with a crater lake and the higher Lugud crater, the primary active vent.

🌋

Negros Island's sugar cane industry, which historically dominated the Philippine sugar market, depends on the fertile volcanic soils of Kanlaon's lower slopes.

🌋

Kanlaon's flanks are dotted with numerous fissure-controlled pyroclastic cones and crater lakes, indicating a complex history of vent migration.

🌋

In local Visayan mythology, the volcano is associated with a legendary dragon or serpent that causes eruptions when angered.

🌋

Mount Kanlaon Natural Park protects the volcano's tropical and montane forests, which harbor endemic bird species found nowhere else in the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kanlaon an active volcano?
Yes, Kanlaon is classified as an active volcano by PHIVOLCS and is one of the most frequently active volcanoes in the Philippines. It has erupted 33 times since 1866, with the most recent activity occurring in 2024–2025. The June 2024 eruption reached VEI 3, the strongest in the modern record, and renewed activity beginning October 2024 has continued into 2025. PHIVOLCS continuously monitors the volcano with seismometers, gas sensors, and deformation instruments.
When did Kanlaon last erupt?
Kanlaon's most recent eruptive activity began on October 19, 2024, and has continued into 2025. This followed the larger VEI 3 eruption on June 3, 2024, which was the most powerful eruption in Kanlaon's modern record. The rapid succession of eruptions in 2024–2025 has kept alert levels elevated and necessitated ongoing evacuations of communities within the expanded danger zone.
How tall is Kanlaon?
Kanlaon stands 2,422 m (7,946 ft) above sea level, making it the highest point on Negros Island, the fourth-largest island in the Philippines. It is slightly shorter than Mayon volcano (2,462 m) in the Bicol region but significantly taller than Taal volcano (311 m) south of Manila. The summit is composed of the elongated northern caldera and the higher Lugud crater, the primary active vent.
What type of volcano is Kanlaon?
Kanlaon is a stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, built up of alternating layers of lava flows, ash, and pyroclastic material. Its andesitic to basaltic-andesitic composition is typical of stratovolcanoes at subduction zone margins. The massive edifice is further decorated with numerous fissure-controlled pyroclastic cones and craters on its flanks. The summit hosts both a caldera with a crater lake and the active Lugud crater.
Is it safe to climb Kanlaon?
Mount Kanlaon Natural Park is normally a popular mountaineering destination, with established trails and a typical 2–3 day ascent. However, access to the summit area is restricted or prohibited during periods of volcanic unrest. Since mid-2024, the volcano has been under elevated alert levels due to VEI 3 and VEI 2 eruptions, and climbing has been prohibited within the expanded danger zone. Climbers should always check the current PHIVOLCS alert level and register with park authorities before any ascent.
Why is Kanlaon dangerous?
Kanlaon poses significant hazards because over 100,000 people live within 15 km of its summit, including Canlaon City. The volcano produces phreatic explosions, ashfall, and during larger eruptions, potential pyroclastic flows and lahars. The lahar threat is particularly concerning during the Philippines' typhoon season, when heavy rainfall can mobilize ash into destructive mudflows. Additionally, the prehistoric debris avalanche that traveled 33 km demonstrates that catastrophic flank collapse is within the volcano's capability.
Where is Kanlaon located?
Kanlaon is located in the central portion of Negros Island in the Visayas region of the Philippines, at coordinates 10.410°N, 123.130°E. The volcano straddles the border between Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental provinces. Canlaon City sits on the eastern flank, while several municipalities including La Carlota and Bago lie on the western lowlands. The nearest major city is Bacolod, the Negros Occidental capital, approximately 50 km to the northwest.