• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Ashfall hit 40 barangays of seven local government units in central Negros, following the moderately explosive eruption at the Kanlaon Volcano crater at 4:38 p.m. yesterday, which lasted two minutes, as reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
The explosive eruption generated a dark gray eruption plume that rose 2,000 meters above the crater before drifting southwest.
Phivolcs reported that pyroclastic density currents or PDCs were observed to have descended the southern and southwestern upper slopes within one kilometer of the summit crater, as recorded by the IP cameras of the Kanlaon Volcano Network.
The provincial disaster risk reduction and management office said that light ashfall and sulfur stench were reported in the villages of Ilijan, Mailum and Binubuhan in Bago City; barangays of San Miguel, Ara-al, Cubay, Nagasi, and La Granja in La Carlota; and Brgy. Odiong in Moises Padilla.
Light ash fall was also experienced by the residents of barangays Zamora, Gomez, Mabini, Burgos, Rizal, Antipolo, Canroma, MH del Pilar, Pandan, and Cambarus in Pontevedra, barangays of Cabagnaan and Sag-ang in La Castellana, as well as the villages of Miranda, Gargato, 1, 2,3,4, Anahaw, Cambaog, Narawis, Tuguis, Baga-as, Bato, Nanunga, Calapi, Quiwi, Himaya, and Pilar in Hinigaran; Batuan and Guintorilan in Valladolid.
The Office of Civil Defense – Negros Island Region reported that shockwaves were experienced by residents of La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, San Enrique and Hinigaran, all in Negros Occidental. However, as of last night, OCD did not yet order preemptive evacuations.
The evacuation of residents at Sitio Guintubdan in Brgy. Ara-al, La Carlota City, was ongoing as of last night.
Suspension of classes at all levels, both in public and private, takes effect today (February 20) in La Carlota City and La Castellana.
Alert Level 2 is maintained over Kanlaon Volcano and entry into the 4 kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone must be strictly prohibited, according to PHIVOLCS.
PDRRMO head Irene Bel Ploteña said that they dispatched two water tankers to La Carlota City, augmented by the fire truck sent by the Bureau of Fire and Protection – Pontevedra.
The Police Regional Office – Negros Island Region and Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade also activated their respective contingency and response measures, following the eruption.*
