Efforts to ensure the safety of communities near Mount Kanlaon continue as 81 percent of the population affected by its recent eruption have been relocated to evacuation centers.
Authorities aim to complete the transfer of all residents within the six-kilometer danger zone to temporary shelters by Monday, December 16, in preparation for further volcanic activity.
The Office of the Civil Defense in Western Visayas (OCD-6) reported that as of 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, 5,515 families (18,425 individuals) had been evacuated. Of these, 4,238 families are from seven towns and cities in Negros Occidental, while 1,277 are from Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
A memorandum from the Regional Task Force Kanlaon requires all local government units (LGUs) within the permanent danger zone—including La Castellana, La Carlota City, Bago City, San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental—to complete mandatory evacuations by December 16.
This measure follows heightened volcanic activity and the eruption of Kanlaon on December 9, which prompted an Alert Level 3 status.
The task force emphasized that the evacuations are precautionary, considering the potential for another eruption and worsening conditions. Among the affected areas, residents and livestock in La Castellana and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, as well as Canlaon City in Negros Oriental, have been particularly impacted.
Kanlaon erupted twice this year—first on June 3 and again with a stronger explosion on December 9. Under Alert Level 3, entry into the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone remains strictly prohibited.
Authorities remain focused on preemptive measures to safeguard lives and reduce risks while continuously monitoring volcanic activity for further developments.