RESIDENTS in La Castellana, Negros Occidental evacuate following the explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on Thursday, Feb. 26. (La Castellana DRRM)
BACOLOD CITY – Twenty-three families or 81 individuals in three barangays in two local government units in Negros Occidental fled the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on Thursday, Feb. 26.
The Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) said 13 families or 40 persons were evacuated from Barangays Ara-al and Yubo in La Carlota City and 10 families or 41 individuals were displaced in one barangay in La Castellana.
Thirteen barangays were affected in Binalbagan but the OCD-NIR has yet to release the number of evacuees.
Mayor Emmanuel Aranda coordinated with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure strict monitoring and implementation of price control on face masks to protect the public from overpricing.
Seventy-nine individuals were staying in evacuation centers and two others were staying outside.
Two LGUs suspended classes on Friday, Feb. 27, following the eruption that caused ashfall in several barangays.
The municipality of Ilog cancelled classes. Only classes in Pandan Elementary School and Camingawan Elementary School in Barangay Antipolo, Pontevedra were suspended.
Flushing of roads to clear them from volcanic ash is ongoing.
The city government of La Carlota issued an advisory about the glowing trails and fires visible on the volcano caused by burning vegetation and superheated rocks.
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations section chief Kenneth Salsalida said the volcano's explosive activity released Pyroclastic Density Currents (PDCs) – fast-moving avalanches of intensely hot gas, ash, and fragmented rock – rather than oozing liquid magma.
As these PDCs and glowing ballistic boulders, which can reach temperatures over 1,000°C, cascade down the dark, heavily vegetated slopes, they create an optical illusion of flowing lava while instantly carbonizing and igniting the trees and brush upon contact.
The city government urged the public to remain calm and strictly stay outside the four-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone. Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 2.