BACOLOD City – Close to 33,000 individuals, comprising around 8,000 families, may need to evacuate if the local government of La Castellana, Negros Occidental, heeds the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) – Western Visayas’ call to clear the six-kilometer permanent danger zone of Mt. Kanlaon.
The OCD issued an appeal urging residents within the danger zone to evacuate due to the heightened activity of Kanlaon volcano, which has been placed under Alert Level 3 by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). This level signifies intensified magmatic unrest and the possibility of a hazardous eruption.
La Castellana’s Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan confirmed in a media interview that fully implementing the evacuation would displace thousands.
However, she clarified that not all evacuees reside directly within the six-kilometer zone. Many have been allowed to return home while constant monitoring continues.
Kanlaon erupted on December 9.
“Some residents have cooperated with the OCD’s call, but our monitoring remains active due to the volcano’s unpredictable behavior,” Nicor-Mangilimutan said.
In preparation for worst-case scenarios, nearby local governments in Himamaylan City, Isabela, and Pontevedra have expressed readiness to assist if evacuation centers in La Castellana reach capacity.
The OCD has identified critical needs for evacuees, including food packs, water chlorinators, aquatabs, hygiene kits, first aid supplies, portable toilets, modular tents, sleeping kits, and face masks.
In response to the volcanic activity, Mayor Nicor-Mangilimutan issued Executive Order No. 2024-050, suspending classes at all levels in public and private schools and halting government office operations. Private companies were also urged to suspend work based on their discretion.
“The potential hazards of volcanic activity necessitate these measures to ensure the safety of students, faculty, employees, and the general public,” the EO stated.
Kanlaon’s intensified unrest poses dangers such as ashfall, pyroclastic flows, and other volcanic hazards that threaten lives and property, the EO further emphasized./PN
