Kanlaon Volcano's Unrest - Citizens Disaster Response Center

SITUATIONAL REPORT ON VOLCANIC ERUPTON (KANLAON VOLCANO)

CENTER FOR PEOPLE’S RESOURCES AND SERVICES, INC.

10 DECEMEBER 2024, 7:00PM

In Photo from DOST-PHIVOLCS: Kanlaon Volcano captured as it erupted at 3:03PM on December 9, 2024.

SITUATIONAL OVERVIEW

03 June 2024, several areas in Negros Occidental have been heavily affected by the volcanic eruption, characterized by a gray-colored plume reaching a height of 5,000 meters and 797 tons of sulfur dioxide flux. This prompted the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) to elevate the province to Blue Alert Status. After the eruption, Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) still recorded volcanic ash emission, volcanic earthquakes and continuous degassing of Sulfur Dioxide. The populace was notified by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Alert level 2 was at place.

As of 3:03 PM yesterday, 09 December 2024, Kanlaon Volcano erupted yet again. The eruption produced a voluminous plume that rapidly rose to 3,000 meters above the vent and drifted west-southwest. Pyroclastic density currents or PDCs descended the slopes on the general southeastern edifice. DOST-PHILVOLCS changed the status of Kanlaon Volcano from Alert level 2 to Alert Level 3.

10 December 2024, DOST-PHIVOLCS assessment reported ash fell over a wide area of the west of the volcano and spread in four (4) Provinces including Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, Iloilo, Antique, and Guimaras. The smell of sulfur was also reported in the upper barangays of Bago City in Negros Occidental.

Classes from different towns and cities were suspended due to ash fall.

Alert level 3 is currently still at place which means magmatic eruption has started and may develop to explosive eruptions. 4-km Danger zone was elevated into 6-km Danger Zone.

Based on the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), an estimate of 87,000 residents lived near the foot of Kanlaon Volcano are affected by the volcanic eruption. Evacuations are still on going.

IMPACT OF THE VOLCANIC ERUPTION

Based on the data gathering conducted by CPRS last 03 June 2024, an estimate of fifteen (15) towns and cities in Negros Occidental and Canlaon City experienced a sulfuric odor that caused hazard to the health of the populace especially to children, women, elderly and sick.

Massive and forced evacuation happened in the communities located near the foot of Kanlaon Volcano due to possibility of lahar. Some families who lived within the 4-km Danger Zone stayed at the evacuation center for a month, and 2 weeks to other communities.

Ash falls also added to the burden of the farmers. It resulted to damage to their crops that brought additional losses to their livelihood. Farmers have barely recovered from the effect of El Niño. Increased of prices of the vegetables are also experienced by the neighboring towns and cities.

09 December 2024, after the volcanic eruption a widespread evacuation happened in the towns and cities of La Castellana, La Carlota, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, and Bago in Negros Occidental and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental. Massive ash fall was felt, and it blanketed the whole communities. Strong sulfuric odor was experienced by the residents, and they complained a discomfort to breathing and itchiness to their eyes. Spring water and other water source are also affected due to ash fall. People were advised to wear face mask and face shield to protect themselves from the ash fall and sulfuric odor. Some motorists were having difficulty in travelling due to zero visibility of ash fall.

As of 9:00PM yesterday, 1853 families or 8,090 individuals are already in the evacuation center.

In Photos from RP: Residents gathered at the plaza of La Castellana, Negros Occidental.

Towns and Cities	Brgy(s)	Evacuation Center	# of Families Evacuated
Bago	Mailum, Ilijan, Maao, Binubuhan	Bago Elementary School	385 families
		ABAP GYM
		Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center (MYTMCCC) Evacuation Center
La Carlota	Yubo, Ara-al	La Carlota Evacuation Center	873 families
La Carlota	Yubo, Ara-al	Gym 2	873 families
Pontevedra	Zamora	Brgy. Evacuation Center	132 families
La Castellana	Camandag, Sag-ang, Cabagnaan, Biak na Bato, Masulog, Mansalanao, Manghanoy, Robles	La Castellana Senior High School	1686 families
		Don Felix Elementary School
		Temporary Town Plaza
		La Castellana Municipal Evacuation Center
		St. Vincent National High School
		La Castellana National High School
Canlaon, Negros Oriental	Masulog, Pula	Macario Espaňola Memorial School	83 families
TOTAL			3159 families