Local government units swiftly acted following the advisory from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) regarding Kanlaon’s volcanic activity.
According to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), residents within the 6-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) were evacuated on Tuesday.
A total of 2,880 families, comprising 9,403 individuals, have been displaced across five municipalities and seventeen barangays.
Among the hardest hit areas is La Castellana in Negros Occidental, where 1,686 families were evacuated from eight barangays.
Other affected areas include Bago City, La Carlota City, Pontevedra, and Moises Padilla, where preemptive evacuations extended to 7-8 kilometers beyond the danger zone in some instances.
On December 9, 2024, Mt. Kanlaon in Central Visayas erupted explosively at 3:03 PM, with the eruption lasting nearly four minutes.
The event produced a towering plume that rose to 4,000 meters above the vent and drifted west-southwest due to strong winds.
In response, Phivolcs raised the alert level for the volcano to Level 3, indicating a magmatic eruption with the potential for further explosive activity. This escalation prompted immediate evacuation and emergency response efforts to ensure public safety.
Classes were suspended in multiple municipalities across Negros Occidental and Antique, including La Castellana, Bago City, and Tobias Fornier as a precautionary measure.
Immediate needs in evacuation centers remain pressing. In La Castellana alone, over 34,000 individuals require essential supplies such as food packs, hygiene kits, sleeping kits, modular tents, and water purification tools.
Other municipalities, including Bago City, have also highlighted the need for face masks and clean water.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) activated quick response teams and coordinated logistics with the Philippine Coast Guard.
In affected areas, community kitchens and evacuation centers were established to provide immediate shelter and sustenance.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and other stakeholders are urging individuals and organizations to contribute to ongoing relief operations.