Kanlaon Volcano erupts; locals should prepare for worse — Phivolcs

Metro Manila, Philippines — Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island spewed tall columns of ash on Monday, Dec. 9, prompting authorities to raise the warning midway in the five-level alert system over what they called “magmatic unrest.”

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned that the magmatic eruption “may progress to further explosive eruptions.”

In an afternoon press conference, Ma. Antonia Bornas, Phivolcs volcano monitoring and eruption prediction division chief, said “similar short-lived explosive eruptions” may produce volcanic particles, hot gases, and ash, which are called pyroclastic density currents, within the six-kilometer radius of the summit.

“All local government units are advised to evacuate the 6-km radius from the summit of the volcano and must be prepared for additional evacuation if activity warrants,” the agency said in a public notice.

Phivolcs also told civil aviation authorities not to fly close to the volcano.

In an interview with government channel PTV, Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said ash fall is expected in areas south of the volcano, so people should wear a face mask for protection.

Phivolcs officials have alerted people and authorities of possible lahar events under intense rain.

Alexander Tamonan, 24, a resident of Brgy. Ilijan in Bago City, thought the eruption was thunder. When he went outside, ash and rocks were as if raining, he told NewsWatch Plus.

Tamonan and his neighbors wore face masks and waited for a bus to evacuate them to safer grounds.

Ilijan is within a kilometer from the main crater, and among the 15 villages within the six-kilometer radius of the volcano, according to government data shared by Phivolcs.

Areas include those situated in Bago City, La Carlota City, and La Castellana in Negros Occidental, as well as Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.

Some 54,000 people are estimated to be affected by the eruption across Western Visayas and Central Visayas, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council estimated.

Canlaon City Mayor Jose Cardenas suspended classes effective Monday and ordered the implementation of mandatory face masks, 10 p.m. curfew, and liquor ban.

In a livestream on Facebook, Cardenas also called on the private sector for help in terms of additional trucks that could transport affected residents if the situation were to worsen.

Pihivolcs said the explosive eruption happened at the summit vent at 3:03 p.m. Monday.

During the presser, Bornas said there was no precursory seismicity for the eruption.

Bornas also said the eruption day was similar to the June 3 eruption “but stronger based on seismic and observation data.”

A column of hot gases and other volcanic materials burst out three kilometers above the vent and drifted west-southwest, the agency said.

Phivolcs said volcanic particles, hot gases, and ash, which are called pyroclastic density currents, flowed the slopes on the general southeastern side of the volcano, it added.

Kanlaon had been under Alert Level 2, or “increasing unrest,” since June.

As of June 4, at least 43 eruptions have been recorded since 1866, Phivolcs said.