Bacolod City – After its phreatic eruption on June 3 and months of unrest, Kanlaon Volcano erupted again at about 3:03 p.m. yesterday.
The eruption lasted about three minutes and 55 seconds, sending a voluminous plume as high as 3,000 meters above the crater, which drifted west-southwest, as reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. It added that there was no precursory seismicity before the eruption.
PHIVOLCS also reported pyroclastic density, or PDCs, descended the slope on the general southeastern edifice of the volcano. PHIVOLCS deputy director Mylene Villegas said similar short lived eruptions may occur in a short period, within a 6-kilometer radius area of the summit.
The explosive eruption prompted PHIVOLCS to raise the alert level from 2 to 3, which means a magmatic eruption has started, which may progress to further explosive eruptions.
PHIVOLCS advised affected LGUs to evacuate the 6-kilometer radius from the summit of the volcano and they must be prepared for additional evacuations, if warranted.
Forced evacuations are currently ongoing in the barangays of Mailum, Ilijan, and Ma-ao in Bago City, villages of Ara-al and Yubo in La Carlota City, as well as barangays of Sag-ang, Biak Na Bato, Camandag, Masulog, Mansalanao, and Cabagnaan in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, while Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas ordered an evacuation of residents in the barangays of Lumapao, Malaiba, Pula, and Masulog in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.
Ashfall was reported in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, and the cities of Bago and La Carlota, La Castellana, and Pulupandan in Negros Occidental. Starting today, classes will be suspended in La Castellana, Isabela, Pulupandan, Binalbagan in Negros Occidental, along with Canlaon City.
Cardenas also imposed a liquor ban and curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. At the same time, he also enlisted the help of the private sector in the evacuation of people in affected areas.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson ordered residents in affected villages at the foot of the volcano to follow evacuation orders, wear masks and googles, and protective clothing. He also advised them to stay indoors and avoid the hazard zones.
Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan, who ordered the forced evacuation of La Castellana town residents staying within the four kilometer permanent danger zone, also activated the municipality Emergency Operation Center as a response unit to help the affected residents.
Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez ordered the City DRRMO to extend transportation support to the personnel of Departments of Social Welfare and Development, and Health, who will assist the affected populace.
The city of Himamaylan, led by Mayor Raymund Tongson, accompanied the CDRRMO in extending help to the affected residents of La Castellana.
On the other hand, Negros Power is also on alert status, in response to the ashfall that can affect or damage its electrical equipment, which may result in power outages.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has said that scheduled flights at the airports of Bacolod, Iloilo, Roxas, Antique remain normal. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star)Â