MANILA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Mount Kanlaon volcano in central Philippines erupted on Friday evening, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

"Ongoing eruption at Kanlaon volcano. Details to follow," the institute said in an advisory posted on social media.

Mariton Antonia Bornas, the institute's chief of the Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, said in a radio interview that a "minor eruption" occurred at 8:06 p.m. local time Friday.

"The eruption lasted for three to four minutes, and created a plume 2 kilometers from the crater," Bornas said, adding that seismologists noticed pyroclastic density currents of hot gas and debris descended the slopes of the volcano.

The volcano remained at alert level 2, preventing people from entering the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone, she added.

Kanlaon, which straddles the provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental on the island of Negros, is one of the country's 24 most active volcanoes. It last erupted in April. ■