After Kanlaon eruption: How to safely dispose of volcanic ash

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Following the recent eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on the island of Negros, experts have shared tips to help residents safely clean and dispose of the volcanic ash.

The advisory comes after ashfall reached several parts of Cebu following Kanlaon’s eruption, leaving fine volcanic ash on rooftops, windows, roads, vehicles, and other surfaces.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), using the wrong cleanup methods could create additional problems, particularly when volcanic ash enters drainage systems or mixes with water sources.

READ: Cebu air quality back to ‘good,’ acid rain threat remains — DENR-7

How to clean volcanic ash

Instead of immediately washing volcanic ash away with water, Phivolcs advises residents to first sweep and collect the ashes, especially if they have accumulated and are powdered.

Mariton Antonia Bornas, head of Phivolcs’ Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, said hosing volcanic ash down with water may cause it to harden inside drainage systems, increasing the risk of clogged canals and pipes.

“Ang advice po sa atin ay instead of hosing it down, walisin na lang po natin at ipunin po and then ipakolekta po natin. Kasi kung atin po itong iho-hose down, baka po ito mag-clog sa ating mga drainage systems. Puwede po kasi itong manigas sa drainage kapag pinong-pino po ’yung ash,” Bornas said.

READ: Kanlaon ashfall strikes 2 with respiratory illness in Cebu

(The advise, instead of hosing down the ashes, is to gather them for collection. Hosing them down may clog our drainage systems where they could harden.)

Authorities have also advised residents to wear masks and appropriate clothing to avoid exposure to the ash which could potentially cause health problems.

Don’t throw it away

Bornas also said volcanic ash does not necessarily have to be discarded immediately.

She explained that volcanic ash is rich in minerals and may be mixed with construction materials or mixed with soil for growing plants instead of simply being treated as waste.

Bornas recalled that following the eruption of Taal Volcano, experts even recommended specific mixing ratios that allowed volcanic ash to be used beneficially in soil.

“Maganda po ’yung abo na isama sa construction material o sa agricultural soil dahil ang volcanic ash po ay very rich in minerals,” she said.

(The ash is good for construction or mixing with agricultural soil because it is rich in minerals.)

Why proper cleanup matters

Proper cleanup is also important because further eruptions will produce additional ashfall, Bornas said.

Even thin layers of volcanic ash, she explained, can accumulate over time, increasing the likelihood of problems once rain begins.

According to Bornas, sulfur dioxide released during volcanic eruptions can dissolve in rainwater and potentially produce acid rain, which may affect crops.

“Kapag magkaroon po tayo ng sunod-sunod na activity sa Kanlaon at sunod-sunod po ang ating ashfall, kahit manipis, mataas po ang tsansa na magkakaroon tayo ng acid rain kapag nagkaroon ng rainfall,” she said.

(If we have successive activity from Kanlaon, resulting in continuing ashfall, even thin layers increase the possibility of acid rainfall.)

She added that residents should only take official advisories as authorities assess the volcano’s activity and its possible effects on surrounding communities.

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