Several LGUs suspend class as ashfall from Mt. Kanlaon eruption reaches parts of Cebu

Local

ASHFALL from the recent eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on Negros Island had reached parts of Cebu on Thursday, prompting several local government units to suspend classes as a safety precaution.

As of 12 p.m., a total of 10 localities, including the capital Cebu City, have suspended classes as safety precaution.

The others are the cities of Toledo, Talisay (public schools), Lapu-Lapu, and the municipalities of Minglanilla, Pinamungajan, Aloguinsan, Cordova, Consolacion.

Ashfall was also reported at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

While flight operations have not been severely impacted, clearing operations on the runway were conducted for safety reasons.

“Volcanic ash is highly abrasive and poses a severe risk to aircraft engines, exterior surfaces, and navigational instruments,” MCIA said.

Authorities, meanwhile, continue to monitor air quality in Metro Cebu following Kanlaon’s eruption.

As of 11 a.m., air quality in the metropolitan has dropped to poor levels, the Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas (EMB-7) reported.

The bureau’s initial findings showed that meteorological factors such as wind direction could have explained the presence of ashfall here.

“We will install filters today for air quality monitoring of our manual stations. We are monitoring our realtime stations for particulate matter (stations in Talisay and Toledo),” said Engr. Cindylyn Pepito of EMB-7.

In response, authorities advised the public to take precautionary measures such as wearing N95 face masks when going outdoors.

Volcanic ash is made of tiny, abrasive fragments of pulverized rock and glass.

Inhaling these sharp particles into your lungs, which can cause severe respiratory irritation, coughing, and trigger conditions like bronchitis or asthma.

Kanlaon underwent moderate explosive eruption around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, which lasted at least three minutes, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.(RBE)