OCD preparing for possible higher alert level over Kanlaon Volcano

The Office Civil Defense (OCD) on Thursday said it is preparing for the possible raising of alert level as experts see three potential scenarios regarding the situation of Kanlaon Volcano.

“We are preparing for a heightened alert level, and (the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology) has advised us to maintain Alert Level 3. Preparations are underway in Himamaylan City, where we are establishing a tent city in anticipation of a possible escalation,” Regional Task Force Kanlaon chairperson Raul Fernandez said in a statement.

Tent cities could also be built in the Vallehermoso town and Guihulngan City.

Citing the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the OCD said that a lava flow, a violent eruption, or a plateau in volcanic activity may happen in the volcano.

Based on their assessments and comparisons with other active volcanoes, Fernandez said the previous eruptions could likely lead to a lava flow.

Kanlaon Volcano’s activity have affected 21,889 people or 7,153 families in 21 barangays of Bago City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Murcia, Pontevedra, and San Carlos.

Ashfall could also affect the areas near the volcano as bad weather has been prevailing over Cadiz City, Manapla, Sagay City, and Victorias City. The rains have affected  7,320 people or 2,305 families.

On December 9, an explosive eruption occurred at the summit vent of Kanlaon Volcano, producing a voluminous plume that rapidly rose to 4,000 meters.

Ashfall was reported and pyroclastic density currents or PDCs  have descended the slopes of the volcano.

Alert Level 3 was raised over Kanlaon Volcano, which means there is a high level of volcanic unrest. Magmatic intrusion to shallow levels of the edifice is driving unrest, with indications that hazardous eruption could occur in weeks.

Possible hazards from the volcano include sudden explosive eruption, lava flow or effusion, ashfall, pyroclastic density current (PDC), rockfall, and lahars during heavy rains.

The danger zone was expanded to a radius of six kilometers from the summit crater or active vent.

As of Thursday, a total of 45,526 people or 11,883 families in 32 barangays in Regions Western Visayas and Central Visayas have been affected.

Of the affected population, 14,186 persons or 4,454 families were staying in 32 evacuation centers, while 6,953 individuals or  2,185 families were taking shelter outside these centers.

Western Visayas reported damage to agriculture amounting to P33,554,721.59 after 34.54 hectares of crops were totally damaged while 263.51 hectares were partially damaged. A total of 830 farmers and fisherfolk have been affected.

A state of calamity was declared in the entire province of Negros Occidental as well as Canlaon City and Vallehermoso in Negros Oriental.

Assistance worth P123,691,278 was provided to residents affected by Kanlaon’s activity in Western Visayas and Central Visayas, the OCD said.—RF, GMA Integrated News