This is the astonishing moment the Kanlaon Volcano belched ash in the Philippines.

Time-lapse footage shows the volcano spewing a tower of smoke and ash on Negros island on December 4 morning.

Philippine seismological agency PHIVOLCS said three 'voluminous' ash emissions were observed on Wednesday, with plumes reaching up to 1,640 feet (500 metres).

Nine volcanic earthquakes were recorded as a sulfur dioxide flux of 6,432 tonnes was observed.

The 8,100-ft stratovolcano, which straddles the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, has been spewing ash and sulfur dioxide at increased rates since it erupted in June.

Its last magmatic eruption was in 1902.

Kanlaon is currently under Alert Level 2 indicating 'moderate levels of volcanic unrest'. Steam and gas emissions, ground deformation, intermittent steam or ash explosions, and above baseline sulfur dioxide emissions may be observed.

PHIVOLCS warned residents against entering the 2.5-mile radius 'permanent danger zone'.

The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands inside the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' where the majority of Earth's volcano eruptions and earthquakes happen.