The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Negros Island Region reported that several areas in the vicinity of the Kanlaon Volcano were blanketed by ashfall following the explosive eruption that occurred on Friday night and subsequent ash emissions on Saturday morning.
Based on reports from the local disaster office, ashfall and sulfuric odor were observed in several barangays of Bago City, including Mailum, Ma-ao, Ilijan, Bacong, Abuanan, Dulao, and Tabunan. Residents in these areas reported fine volcanic ash settling on rooftops and roads, accompanied by the smell of sulfur.
In La Carlota City, ashfall and sulfuric odor were recorded in Brgy. Ara-al, with some residents reporting mild ground shaking during the eruption. San Carlos City likewise reported ashfall and sulfuric odor in Brgy. Codcod, particularly in the upper portion of the barangay, while Brgy. Zamora in Pontevedra experienced minimal ashfall.
On the eastern side of the volcano, in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, a sulfur smell was noted in Brgy. Lumapao (Sitio Bayabas) and Brgy. Linothangan (Sitio Bulong).
Authorities said no major damage has been reported so far, but Bago City’s disaster office deployed teams to Brgy. Mailum for possible evacuation if conditions worsen.
The OCD and local disaster risk reduction and management offices across Negros are on heightened alert, with search and rescue units from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) all on standby.
“Rest assured that our response clusters are on standby, and search and rescue units are prepared to mobilize in case of an escalation in the alert level. We urge residents in affected areas to coordinate with their respective DRRM Offices should they choose to evacuate,” OCD Negros Island Region Director Donato Sermeno III said.
