Preemptive evacuations ordered as Kanlaon eruption threat looms

By Glazyl Y. Masculino and Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – At least 48 families, or 154 individuals, from Barangay Biak-na-Bato, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, were evacuated Friday morning due to the threat of a magmatic eruption from Kanlaon volcano.

John De Asis, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), said the evacuation was part of the town’s preemptive safety measures. The affected residents from Sitios Cabatuan, Binulakan, and Calapnagan are now temporarily sheltered at Don Felix Robles Elementary School. These areas are within the four-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) of Kanlaon, according to De Asis.

Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan visited the upper barangays Thursday night to distribute food packs, medicines, and financial assistance, checking on the situation of the evacuees.

La Castellana was one of the hardest-hit areas during the June 3 eruption of Kanlaon, when a lahar flow displaced thousands of residents, prompting a state of calamity.

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Friday that the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has recommended extending the evacuation zone to six kilometers, which would include the cities of Bago, La Carlota, and San Carlos, as well as La Castellana. The provincial government has provided fuel assistance for transporting evacuees, and local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices (DRRMOs) remain on high alert.

The OCD has also suggested using Panaad Stadium as an evacuation center in case of a major eruption. However, Mayor Nicor-Mangilimutan noted that local evacuation centers are still sufficient. “Using Panaad would be for an extreme situation, but we hope and pray we don’t reach that stage,” Lacson added.

As of Sept. 13, a total of 144 families, or 431 individuals, have been evacuated from five barangays in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental. The evacuees include residents from Barangays Lumapao, Masulog, Pula, Malaiba, and Linothangan. All evacuees have been safely relocated to evacuation centers, where they are receiving food, water, hygiene kits, face masks, and medical assistance.

Phivolcs reported significant volcanic activity on Sept. 12, with 17 volcanic earthquakes and sulfur dioxide emissions reaching 10,880 tons per day, indicating a potential escalation. The local government of Canlaon ordered mandatory evacuations of high-risk areas on Sept. 10.

Crop Damage

Volcanic ash fall has caused extensive damage to high-value commercial crops in Barangays Lumapao, Masulog, and Pula. Seventeen farmers across 12.35 hectares in Barangay Lumapao have reported losses, while eight farmers across 3.75 hectares in Barangay Masulog have been affected. In Barangay Pula, 56 farmers covering 27 hectares in Sitios Minabuntod, Upper Pula, and Compound have suffered crop destruction.

Crops affected include carrots, broccoli, cabbage, radish, onions, pechay, and squash, among others. The City Agriculture Office is continuing to assess the damage, which poses significant risks to farmers’ livelihoods.

Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas emphasized the local government’s priority is the safety and well-being of residents, especially the evacuees. “We are taking no chances,” Cardenas said, referring to the combined threat of the volcanic activity and Tropical Storm Bebinca.

Cardenas reassured residents that all evacuation centers are well-supplied with food, water, and medical support, and that the local government is fully committed to their safety. “We are doing everything in our power to keep you safe during these challenging times,” Cardenas said, urging the community to remain calm and work together.

“We have a dedicated team working around the clock to ensure that our evacuation centers are well-equipped, our communication channels are open, and all response measures are in place,” he added.

Caption: Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan visits the upper barangays of La Castellana, Negros Occidental, on Thursday night to distribute food packs and financial assistance amid the Kanlaon volcano eruption threat. (Photo courtesy of Arangka La Castellana Facebook)