Over 8,000 individuals took shelter in evacuation centers in Western Visayas (Region 6) and Central Visayas (Region 7) after Kanlaon Volcano had another explosive eruption on Tuesday, April 8.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said 8,316 individuals or 2,606 families were sheltered in 22 evacuation centers while 11,583 individuals or 3,574 families were staying at their relatives’ or friends’ homes.
Many of those in evacuation centers fled their homes during the earlier eruption on Dec. 9, 2024.
The number of people staying in temporary shelters is expected to rapidly increase as evacuation continues, according to OCD Task Force Kanlaon chief and OCD Region 6 Director Raul Fernandez.
The latest eruption, which occurred at 5:51 a.m. and ended at 6:47 a.m., resulted in ashfall in at least six barangays in Negros Occidental: four in La Carlota City (Barangays Ara-al, Hagumuit, San Miguel, and Yubo); and one each in La Castellana (Barangay Sag-Ang) and in Bago City, affecting more than 48,000 individuals.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the eruption generated a voluminous ash plume about 4,000 meters before drifting southwest.
“May mga reported na po na ashfall, may mga abo na po na nakarating sa kanilang mga barangay. Sa ngayon po, nagkakaroon na rin po ng evacuation po sa affected areas outside of the six-kilometer danger zone,” Fernandez said over radio dzBB.
Suspension of classes was also expected, he added.
Protocol for Alert Level 4, which means that a hazardous eruption is imminent, has also been prepared by the OCD-6 although at present, Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 3 (High Level of Volcanic Unrest).
Those who will go to Negros provinces for the upcoming Holy Week were advised to suspend their trips due to Kanlaon’s eruption.
“Huwag po muna sa bayan ng La Castellana at La Carlota. Wala pong pwedeng pumasok sa six-kilometer danger zone,” Fernandez said.
Irene Bel Ploteña, Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) head, said local government units have prepositioned supplies including facemasks so that residents will have a means of protection from inhaling ash.
“We are closely coordinating with the national government agencies in case mayroon pang mga kailangan na mga supplies na hindi available sa LGUs or sa province (in case there are needed supplies that are not available in the LGUs or province),” she said.
AFP READY TO ASSIST
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr. said the troops are ready to assist the LGUs in evacuating affected residents.
In fact, Brawner visited the headquarters of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) at Camp Gerona in Murcia, Negros Oriental on Monday, April 7, a day before the eruption, to check the military’s readiness to respond to the ongoing threat posed by Kanlaon Volcano.
“The AFP stands fully prepared to assist in any necessary evacuation, relief operations, and other humanitarian efforts in response to potential emergencies,” he said.
Phivolcs continues to warn nearby communities of the potential for sudden explosive eruptions, lava flows, ashfall, pyroclastic density currents, ballistic projectiles, and rockfalls, including lahar flows, particularly during heavy rainfall.
Kanlaon Volcano also erupted twice in 2024, on June 3 and Dec. 9.
DSWD PREPARES AID
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured that the agency is ready to distribute family food packs and other necessary aid to communities affected by the Kanlaon Volcano eruption.
Gatchalian said over 250,000 family food packs have been prepositioned in DSWD warehouses in Western Visayas (Region 6) and Central Visayas (Region 7), even before the eruption.
Gatchalian urged residents in nearby communities to heed evacuation orders issued by LGUs and prioritize their safety.
He noted that while help is on the way, the primary concern for evacuees should be their safety.
He assured that all available resources would be utilized to ensure their comfort, especially since many have been in evacuation centers since the volcano was placed under Alert Level 3 on Dec. 9. (Martin Sadongdong, Ellalyn Ruiz)
