4-6-2024 (MANILA) On Monday evening, Mount Kanlaon on Negros Island erupted, prompting the evacuation of nearly 800 residents, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDDRMC).
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has elevated the alert status of Kanlaon to Alert Level 2, signalling increasing volcanic activity. The eruption sent a massive five-kilometre plume of ash, gas, and rocks into the atmosphere.
In a report released on Tuesday, the NDDRMC confirmed that 796 people had been displaced from their homes, with most seeking refuge in evacuation centres.
PHIVOLCS has strongly advised the public to avoid the four-kilometre radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) surrounding the volcano to mitigate risks associated with sudden explosions, rockfall, and landslides. The agency warned that further explosive eruptions or hazardous magmatic activity could occur.
Additionally, PHIVOLCS has cautioned pilots to avoid flying near the volcano’s summit, as ash from abrupt eruptions poses significant risks to aircraft.
Mount Kanlaon, straddling the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, is one of the Philippines’ 24 active volcanoes.
In response to the eruption, the provincial government of Negros Oriental activated the Provincial Disaster Reduction and Management Cluster (PDRRMC) to manage the crisis. Simultaneously, the provincial government of Negros Occidental raised the PDRRMC Emergency Operations Center to Blue Alert.
As of Tuesday, PHIVOLCS reported detecting 43 volcanic earthquakes at Kanlaon, underscoring the ongoing volcanic unrest.
