• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Office of the Civil Defense urgently urged local chief executives of La Castellana and Bago City in Negros Occidental to reconsider their decision to allow evacuees in their areas, from outside of the 6-kilometer extended danger zone of Kanlaon volcano, to return home.
In light of the heightened volcanic activity at Kanlaon, OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said “We must take anticipatory actions to prepare for the worst-case scenario of a more violent eruption. Achieving zero casualties is our utmost priority,” he stressed.
Nepomuceno added “We are constrained to sound the alarm and urge local officials to reassess this decision. The safety of our citizens must come first.”
The appeal comes as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) warned of the possibility of raising the alert status of Kanlaon Volcano to Level 4.
Should that occur, the permanent danger zone may be extended from 6 kilometers to 10 kilometers, he added.
The PHIVOLCS Upper Pantao Observation Station has reported concern over electronic tilt measurements indicating ongoing inflation on the southeastern flank since December 2024, alongside a deflation trend on the western flank.
Additionally, a drastic reduction in sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions—from an average of 5,673 tonnes per day to just 2,029 tonnes—has been observed since January 9. The indicators strongly suggest a sudden pressurization within the volcano, raising the risk of a potential eruption, according to PHIVOLCS.
Nepomuceno reiterated the necessity of ensuring the safety of citizens who have returned home.
“We are strongly concerned about the potential for pyroclastic density currents traveling at speeds of 30 to 600 kilometers per hour; no resident in the danger zone can escape this,” he warned. Acknowledging the difficulties faced by residents due to prolonged stays in evacuation centers, the Nepomuceno reaffirmed the OCD’s commitment to continuous support.*