Evacuation efforts were initiated in Negros Island in response to the explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on Monday, Dec. 9, with around 54,000 people projected to be affected, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said.

The OCD convened an emergency meeting at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Operations Center in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City to coordinate response efforts in the immediate aftermath of the eruption.

Department of National Defense (DND) Sec. and NDRRMC Chairman Gilberto Teodoro Jr. directed OCD regional offices in Western Visayas (Region 6) and Central Visayas (Region 7) to respond and assist affected families immediately, “particularly in evacuating affected residents to avoid casualties.”

“Ongoing evacuation is being implemented for residents within a six-kilometer radius of the volcano,” the OCD said.

“It is estimated that approximately 12,000 families or 54,000 individuals across Regions 6 and 7 will be affected,” it noted.

In Region 6, approximately 20,000 individuals from 12 barangays are expected to be impacted by the eruption, according to the OCD. 

“Authorities are preparing for the worst-case scenario of raising the alert level to Level 4 if necessary, which would necessitate further evacuation and safety measures, it said.

OCD Asst. Sec. Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said contingency plans for evacuation should be executed effectively.

He said the OCD’s Incident Action Command Center (IACC) will be reactivated and will comprise representatives from the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to coordinate response efforts effectively.

“Assistance is being requested from the Philippine Navy for floating assets to aid in evacuation and response efforts,” he noted.

The eruption occurred at 3:03 p.m., according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

The eruption produced a significant volcanic plume that reached approximately 3,000 meters above the volcano's summit, with pyroclastic density currents observed descending the southeastern slopes. In light of these developments, the Phivolcs officially raised the alert level of Kanlaon Volcano from Level 2 to Level 3, indicating a greater risk of hazardous volcanic activity.