(Updated)
Two days after Mt. Kanlaon erupted, lahar, volcanic mud and other debris were washed due to a heavy rainfall on Wednesday, June 5, swamping areas located near the volcano in Negros Island and forcing the evacuation of around 1,000 residents.
The lahar flow occurred in Sitio Calapnagan, Brgy. Biaknabato, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
There were unconfirmed reports that a lahar flow was also monitored in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental. This is yet to be validated by the OCD.
OCD Administrator, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno ordered regional counterparts in Western Visayas (Region 6) and Central Visayas (Region 7) to work with concerned government agencies and local authorities for the implementation of appropriate response protocols and possible augmentation of support amid Mt. Kanlaon’s restiveness.
“There are established preparedness and response protocols that serve as guides to address this emergency,” he said.
La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said a forced evacuation was already imposed among the residents in her town.
“Yes, there is an ongoing forced evacuation. If we can bring all residents from five to six sitios near the area where the lahar flow occurred, probably it's going to be more or less 300 families or 1,000 residents,” she said in a radio interview over dzBB.
“We directed the residents to evacuate since the lahar flow has already reached knee-deep high. Our rescue vehicles could not pass through the streets,” the mayor added.
The evacuees will be temporarily sheltered in two evacuation centers.
The local government has provided the affected residents with relief supplies but Nicor-Mangilimutan appealed for more help from the provincial government.
“For now, we have rice because other LGUs [local government units] have donated items to us,” she said.
For his part, Nepomuceno said the OCD has ramped up its efforts to ensure that needed support will be extended immediately.
He advised residents in areas affected by the lahar flow to avoid danger zones, as well as rivers and streams.
Kanlaon, which is currently on Alert Level 2, erupted on June 3, producing a 5,000-meter plume.