MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Authorities have started the urgent evacuation of approximately 87,000 people in central Philippines following a brief eruption of Mount Kanlaon. The volcano, located on Negros Island, sent a towering ash plume into the sky and unleashed superheated gas and debris down its western slopes.
This latest eruption did not result in immediate injuries or fatalities; however, officials raised the alert level for the volcano, signaling the possibility of more explosive eruptions in the near future.
Volcanic ash has drifted over a vast area, including the province of Antique, situated over 200 kilometers (124 miles) west of the volcano, severely reducing visibility and raising health concerns. Teresito Bacolcol, the chief volcanologist of the Philippines, warned residents about the risks posed by the ash fallout.
As a precaution, at least six domestic flights and one international flight to Singapore were canceled, and two local flights were rerouted due to the impact of the eruption, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
Evacuations are primarily focusing on towns and villages closest to the volcanic slopes, particularly in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, where around 47,000 residents are being relocated from a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) danger zone. The Office of Civil Defense confirmed the urgency of these measures.
By Tuesday morning, over 6,000 people had found refuge in evacuation centers, while many others have sought temporary shelter with relatives. La Castellana’s mayor, Rhumyla Mangilimutan, communicated this information to The Associated Press.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured the public that government agencies are prepared to assist the families displaced by the eruptions. His social welfare secretary was dispatched early Tuesday to coordinate aid to the affected areas. “We are ready to support the families who have been evacuated outside the 6-kilometer danger zone,” Marcos stated during a press conference.
Government scientists are actively monitoring the air quality surrounding the area to evaluate the risk of toxic volcanic gases, which may necessitate additional evacuations from locations affected by the eruption.
In response to the emergency, disaster-relief teams are swiftly setting up evacuation centers and gathering essential supplies, including face masks, food, and hygiene items. This response comes just before the Christmas season, a time traditionally marked by increased travel and family gatherings in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation.
Educational institutions in the most affected regions have been closed, and nighttime curfews have been implemented to ensure public safety.
The Philippines’ Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that the four-minute eruption of Mount Kanlaon on Monday afternoon led to a dangerous pyroclastic density current—a superheated mixture of gas, ash, and debris that poses severe threats to life. Bacolcol described it as a significant eruption, noting that volcanologists are currently assessing whether the explosion involved older volcanic deposits or was triggered by rising magma.
Bacolcol indicated that only a few volcanic tremors were detected prior to the eruption, and the alert level was raised to the third highest in a five-tier warning system, signifying that a magmatic eruption may have started with the potential for more explosive activity.
Mount Kanlaon stands at 2,435 meters (7,988 feet) and is among the Philippines’ 24 active volcanoes. Its last eruption was in June, which resulted in the evacuation of hundreds of residents. Notably, in 1996, three hikers lost their lives when the volcano erupted unexpectedly, leading to the rescue of several others.
The Philippines, situated in the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is frequently affected by earthquakes and volcanic activities and experiences around 20 typhoons and storms annually, making it one of the countries most vulnerable to natural disasters.
