A muddy streamflow was observed in the Municipality of Moises Padilla as heavy rainfall was recorded in various areas in the Province of Negros Occidental.

Stream water turned gray in some areas while brown in other areas on December 14, 2024 due to ashes from Kanlaon Volcano deposited since its phreatic explosion on December 9, 2024.

According to PHIVOLCS, because of the wide areas where volcanic materials were spewed, heavy rainfall carries these volcanic deposits also along wider areas.

“Posible tayo na magka-lahar kasi bagong materials ang ipinalabas ni Mount Kanlaon. Kung nakatira sila malapit sa ilog, sapa na kumukonekta sa ibabaw ng bulkan, maging alerto sila. Ang dinadala ng tubig, ang mga ash na na-deposit doon sa ibabaw, possible ash, bato, at volcanic materials,” according to Pearly Sianson, Science and Research specialist at Kanlaon Volcano Observatory.

In La Castellana town, nine evacuation centers are reported to be already full. Health issues have started to break out such as common colds, mostly among children.

The evacuation centers are said to be humid, according to senior citizens who have started to suffer from episodes of asthma, chest tightness leading to chest pains.

Additional medicines and vitamins are requested by evacuees.

“Hindi nga ako makalakad. Ganito pa rin. Hindi ako makalakad at saka ang init-init dito,” Lola Soledad, an evacuee, said.

The Local Government Unit (LGU) of La Castellana admitted a lack in funds to sustain the needs of the evacuees.

The LGU considers donations, and other help from government agencies, a huge help to get by. 

As of this writing, the LGU has assured that medicines at the clinic in evacuation sites are sufficient.

“Mayroon tayong emergency kits, provided sa atin dito sa Colegio de la Castellana (evacuation center), at the same time we have a standby clinic, may clinic din at may assigned na BHW (barangay health worker), midwives,” Dr. Patrick Estoya, focal person for Municipal Evacuation Center of the La Castellana LGU, said.

In the entire province, evacuees reached over 11,000.

Over 8,000 are residents of La Castellana; over 2,000 are from La Carlota City, and over 300 are from Bago City.

The mandatory evacuation in the province is over.

Barangay officials assist personnel of the Philippine National Police in the implementation of checkpoints. From 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., persons allowed to re-enter the permanent danger zone (PDZ) are only those with access pass, and only for persons with important things to get from their house.

Beyond 4 p.m., residents are all banned from entering the 6-kilometer PDZ.

“There should be no human activity within [the] 6-kilometer permanent danger zone. Nananatili tayo sa Alert Level 3 [high level of volcanic unrest]. For those na hindi susunod, sa violators for this advisory, they will be guided by PNP,” La Castellana Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Head, John de Asis, said.