A volcano in the central Philippines became active briefly on Tuesday, releasing a plume of ash and debris 4 kilometres (2.4 miles) high into the sky. This prompted authorities to cancel classes in four nearby villages affected by ashfall, officials confirmed.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Mount Kanlaon’s early-morning eruption lasted for over an hour. Ash reached at least four agricultural villages to the southwest of the volcano on Negros island. No injuries or property damage were reported.

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The volcano had previously erupted in December, leading to the evacuation of thousands. Many of those displaced residents remained in temporary shelters on Tuesday, as Kanlaon continued to display signs of unrest, the Office of Civil Defense reported.

Teresito Bacolcol, the Philippines’ chief volcanologist, told The Associated Press that there were no significant new indicators of heightened volcanic activity—such as an increase in volcanic earthquakes—that would necessitate raising the alert level from its current level 3, which indicates a “high level of volcanic unrest.” The highest alert, level 5, would signal that a “hazardous eruption is in progress.”

“There’s always a chance of a larger eruption,” Bacolcol said, advising the public to remain alert and to avoid the 6-kilometre (3.7-mile) permanent danger zone around the volcano.

Mount Kanlaon stands 2,435 metres (7,988 feet) tall and is among the Philippines’ 24 most active volcanoes. In 1996, three hikers died and several others were rescued after an unexpected eruption near the summit, officials recalled.

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The Philippines lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a zone known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The country also experiences around 20 typhoons and storms annually, making it one of the most disaster-prone regions globally.