KANLAON VOLCANO ERUPTS, AFFECTED RESIDENTS PREPARE FOR EVACUATION

KANLAON Volcano in Negros Island on Thursday erupted generating a 2000-meter ash plume, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

According to Phivolcs, the moderately explosive eruption at Kanlaon’s summit crater occurred at 4:39 p.m. and lasted two minutes.

The dark gray plume drifted southwest, following the fall of pyroclastic density currents down the volcano’s slope as far as one kilometer. 

The local government of Canlaon City in Negros Oriental said it is ready to deploy its response teams and logistics following the explosive eruption of Kanlaon.

Canlaon City information officer Seth Bariga said the city is prepared to evacuate residents from the barangays near the volcano if advised by authorities, such as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) or the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

“We were shocked to hear a loud explosive sound this afternoon and that the volcano was again erupting, but people did not panic,” Bariga said in an interview by Philippine News Agency.

“We are used to it, and the city is prepared for a worst-case scenario with ‘Oplan Exodus’ still in place,” he added.

Alert Level 2 remains over Kanlaon Volcano.

Authorities said entry in the 4-km. permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited.