• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The ashfall caused by the minor explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on October 24 has contaminated spring water sources in Barangay Mailum, Bago City, Negros Occidental, which has affected its population of 5,833, on Wednesday disclosed City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Merijene Ortizo.
The situation prompted the Bago City to conduct water rationing to Mailum barangay residents, composed of 1,492 households, on Oct. 25 and 26, delivering 20,000 liters of potable water, according to Ortizo.
Another water rationing is scheduled Oct. 30, pending the conduct of water sampling in spring water sources in the barangay, the CDRRMO head further said.
After the eruption, ashfall or sulfuric odor were experienced by residents in barangays of Ma-ao, Ilijan, Bacong, Abuanan, Tabunan, and Dulao in Bago City, barangay of Araal in La Carlota City, Brgy. Codcod in San Carlos City, Brgy. Punta Taytay in Bacolod City, barangay of Cabagna-an in La Castellana, Brgy. Zamora in Pontevedra and Brgy. Minoyan in Murcia, all in Negros Occidental, and the barangays of Lumapao and Linuthangan in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.
The Oct. 24 eruption of Kanlaon Volcano was the fifth event recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology since June 3, 2024.
PHIVOLCS logged seven recent volcanic earthquakes as of Oct. 29 at Kanlaon Volcano, which remains under Alert Level 2.*
