Kanlaon Volcano’s explosive eruption caught residents in Negros Island by surprise as the ground suddenly shook violently, the roads became so hot that steam came out from them, then came the ashfall.
‘Shaking ground, steaming roads’: Kanlaon eruption sends nearly 4,000 families packing in Negros IslandA view of the explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on Dec. 9, 2024. Kanlaon Volcano’s explosive eruption caught residents in Negros Island by surprise as the ground suddenly shook violently, the roads became so hot that steam came out from them, then came the ashfall.
Since the Dec. 9 eruption, around 3,940 families were evacuated in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental provinces, officials from the Office of Civil Defense and provincial disaster risk reduction and management offices disclosed Tuesday, Dec. 10. In Negros Oriental, OCD spokesperson Edgar Posadas said that forced evacuations affected around 1,800 families across five barangays within the volcano’s six-kilometer danger zone. Meanwhile, Negros Occidental PDRRMO chief Irene Bel Poteña said there were 2,140 families that were evacuated in the province – including 1,132 from the town of La Castellana, the most number among the affected areas. Others include 673 families in La Carlota City; 200 families in Pontevedra; 131 families in Bago City; and four families in Moises Padilla. “When the eruption occurred around 3 p.m. , it was felt in Bago City. We felt that the ground shook especially in the upland areas. The roads were steaming, and the houses were suddenly covered in ashfall,” said Bago City DRRMO officer Andrea Hojilla. The local governments immediately ordered an evacuation of residents near the volcano. So far, the displaced individuals were housed in 18 different public schools, coliseums, and gymnasiums. A staging area has been established in front of the La Castellana municipal hall, and schools with suspended classes will be utilized as evacuation centers. The OCD said that Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City has also been designated as the primary evacuation center with a capacity to accommodate up to 30,000 evacuees “in preparation for the worst-case scenario.” Local DRRMO officers hope that the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, signed by President Marcos Jr. just last Dec. 6, would be implemented as soon as possible. The new law mandates the establishment in every city and municipality nationwide of evacuation centers that are fully equipped to provide temporary but secured accommodations for disaster-stricken citizens.Department of National Defense Secretary and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Chairman Gilberto Teodoro Jr. activated the National Inter-agency Coordinating Cell to coordinate response efforts. According to OCD, the gravity of the situation is particularly acute in La Castellana in Negros Occidental where an estimated 46,900 individuals are within the four- to six-kilometer danger zone. “Authorities are focusing on Barangay Sag-ang due to prevailing westward wind directions, which pose additional risks from ashfall. Transportation support is urgently needed for the evacuation of communities in Barangay Cabagnaan, as well as those in Himamaylan, Hinigaran, Isabela, Pontevedra, and Moises Padilla,” Posadas shared. The OCD said that Guimaras has also been affected by ashfall, and Bago City has recorded ashfall and sulfur odors in several barangays. La Carlota City also has experienced sulfur odors and minor ashfall. The anticipated needs in the affected areas include face masks and additional support for evacuees as some of them have complained of itchy throat and difficulty in breathing, according to local DRRMO officers.Meanwhile, as of writing, rescuers were waiting for the go-signal of the provincial government in Negros Occidental to resume their operations and find individuals who still need to be evacuated. The rescue operations had to be paused before dawn Tuesday as the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned that Kanlaon Volcano could erupt again. “We're still observing the activities of Kanlaon and also the advice of the DOST-Phivolcs as to its status. The local DRRMOs of the local government units will also convene for a meeting regarding their response,” Poteña said. Sufficient relief packs were already prepositioned to address the needs of the evacuees in Negros Island. A rapid disaster and needs assessment will also be conducted within the day. Water tanks will also be prepositioned in evacuation centers to ensure an adequate supply. The OCD also mobilized resources, including the deployment of 2,100 face masks and 1,000 family hygiene kits to Bacolod City, alongside requests for a water filtration truck from the OCD Rapid Deployment Team.
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