ILOILO City – The recent eruption of Kanlaon Volcano has inflicted P1,491,206.35 in damages to the agriculture sector of Negros Occidental, according to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC).
The local government unit (LGU) that reported damage to the RDRRMC is La Castellana, Negros Occidental. Ten corn farmers and 30 rice farmers reported crop damage due to ashfall from the volcano.
The damage amounted to 56.76 metric tons of high-value crops, resulting in a production loss of P1,491,206.35.
No other LGUs reported agricultural damage. However, a total of 572 families, or 1,985 persons, were affected by the eruption. Of these, 280 families or 1,138 persons were accommodated in six evacuation centers, while 33 families or 132 persons stayed with relatives.
Here is the breakdown of the affected families and individuals:
* Bago City – 133 families or 271 persons from three barangays
* La Carlota City – 73 families or 289 persons from four barangays
* La Castellana – 242 families or 985 persons from nine barangays
* Moises Padilla – five families or 20 persons from one barangay
* Pontevedra – 120 families or 420 persons from one barangay
The eruption occurred at approximately 6:51 p.m. o June 3, producing a voluminous and incandescent plume that rose to 5,000 meters above the vent.
Lasting six minutes according to the seismic record, the eruption was preceded by a strong volcano-tectonic earthquake.
Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) were observed traveling two to three kilometers down the southern and southeastern slopes.
Residents in some barangays of Bacolod City, Pontevedra, Murcia, Valladolid, San Enrique, Bago City, Binalbagan, and La Castellana reported small rocks falling and a strong smell of sulfur. Ashfall was also experienced in La Carlota City, La Castellana, Pontevedra, San Carlos City, Valladolid, and Bago City.
On June 6, lahar flows were reported in Moises Padilla, Isabela, Hinigaran, and La Carlota. The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) declared an Alert Level 2 and continues to closely monitor the volcanic activity./PN
