DECEPTIVELY CALM Mt. Kanlaon looks deceptively calm in this aerial photo of the volcano’s summit taken on Dec. 12, 2024. But state volcanologists say another explosive eruption similar to what happened on Monday, Dec. 9, can still happen. — PHOTO COURTESY OF TASK FORCE KANLAON
BACOLOD CITY — Mt. Kanlaon on Negros Island again spewed ash on Monday afternoon.
The ash reached 50 meters tall from the volcano’s crater at 3:59 p.m. and 50 to 70 meters high at 4:28 p.m., said Mari Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist at the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory in La Carlota City.
After the ash emission, a small dark ash cloud was observed rising from the volcano’s crater, according to a post on the Canlaon City social media page.
“The emergency siren has been activated, signaling the need to prepare for a possible volcanic eruption,” it added.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that Mt. Kanlaon remained at alert level 3 (intensified unrest). It recorded 12 volcanic earthquakes from 12 a.m. Sunday to 12 a.m. Monday, and the emission of 6,535 tons of sulfur dioxide on Sunday.
Phivolcs said that in case of ash fall, people should cover their nose and mouth with a damp, clean cloth or dust mask as ash fall is a hazard that can cause lung and heart diseases.
Authorities have evacuated 11,035 residents within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone surrounding Mt. Kanlaon in two cities and one town in Negros Occidental on Monday.
Raul Fernandez, director of the Office of Civil Defense Western Visayas and chairperson of the Task Force Kanlaon, said the evacuees came from Bago and La Carlota cities and La Castellana town.
“We have evacuated 100 percent of the targeted residents for evacuation on the Occidental side,” he said.
“The task force has implemented a comprehensive evacuation strategy aimed at saving lives and minimizing suffering in the event of a catastrophic eruption,” he added.
In Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, 5,229 of the 6,092 persons living in the danger zone were evacuated as of 4:43 p.m. Monday.
A muddy stream flow occurred in Moises Padilla town, Negros Occidental on Sunday.
Donato Sermeno III, OCD Negros Island Region director, said checkpoints have been set up on roads leading to the six-kilometer danger zone and public transportation has been rerouted.
Indigenous People living in the danger zone in Canlaon City had initially not evacuated as their leaders were consulting with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
“The NCIP advised them to follow evacuation instructions,” Sermeno said.
Meanwhile, the Bago City Council on Monday declared a state of calamity following the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, according to Mayor Nicholas Yulo.
“This is to access the city’s Quick Response Fund (QRF) that will be utilized by our City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council for necessary interventions,” he said
The city’s QRF was pegged at P18 million.
“One of the biggest problems Bago City is facing is sustainability. We expect to run out of resources to feed the evacuees by January,” Yulo said.
The Bago City employees’ Christmas party, the mayor said, has been postponed as he called for prayers for the volcano to calm down so those in evacuation centers can have a merry Christmas.
Yulo also said authorities evacuated 159 individuals, or 49 families, from Barangay Ilijan in Bago City on Monday. After the evacuation was completed, the road was closed.
La Carlota City and La Castellana also declared a state of calamity.
Last week, the Provincial Board declared the entire Negros Occidental under a state of calamity due to the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.