A strong eruption from Kanlaon Volcano in the central Philippines occurred early Tuesday morning, sending an ash plume approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) into the sky. This event has led to the cancellation of classes in several nearby villages and ongoing precautions as the area remains under evacuation orders from a previous eruption last December.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that the eruption began at 5:51 AM local time and ceased by 6:47 AM. The agency described the incident as an "explosive eruption," producing a substantial ash plume that is drifting southwest. Pictures circulating on social media have shown the dramatic scene, illustrating the scale of the eruption during the early hours.

Emergency services had anticipated this event, as local officials confirmed that families within a 4 to 6 kilometers radius had already been evacuated following December's eruption. John De Asis, a rescue official in La Castellana, expressed relief at the preparedness of the community: "We were prepared for the eruption," he stated. "Right now we are just monitoring which villages will be affected by the ashfall."

Witnesses described the eruption's sound as resembling "a big rock had fallen from a high place." Local resident Channel Nicor, 22, remarked on the sight of the ash cloud, stating, "I felt nervous, but not as nervous as the previous eruption, because this time we know what to do."

The eruption has maintained a level three alert on a five-point scale since the last explosive activity. There have been no immediate reports of injuries or damage from this latest event, but the disaster-prone region is no stranger to such occurrences, having seen hundreds of residents evacuated during a similar event last September.

Kanlaon Volcano is one of 24 active volcanoes in the Philippines, located in an area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is notorious for its tectonic activity, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. The Philippine archipelago is also vulnerable to natural disasters, facing around 20 typhoons annually.

For further details, please refer to the Channel News Asia and CBS News.