La Castellana, Negros Occidental—The municipality of La Castellana has imposed a curfew and declared a state of calamity to ensure the safety of its residents amid Mount Kanlaon’s prolonged restiveness.
Municipal Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan issued Executive Order (EO) 024-028, enforcing a curfew from 9:00 PM to 4:00 AM beginning Friday, June 7, to regulate public and non-essential activities, minimizing risks associated with the volcanic activity.
Mount Kanlaon erupted on June 3, triggering lahar flows that affected several barangays in the province, including those located in the small town of La Castellana—home to roughly 79,492 residents.
Exemptions to the curfew include government employees working during curfew hours, personnel of private offices, medical professionals, and public utility workers.
Nicor-Mangilimutan has urged all establishments, offices, and places of worship to adjust their operating hours in line with the curfew. Those who need to work during curfew hours must present their identification cards at checkpoints.
The declaration of a state of calamity comes in response to the severe impact of Mt. Kanlaon’s eruption, which resulted in significant ash fall and lahar flows that have disrupted daily life and caused flooding in numerous barangays.
The Negros Occidental Provincial Government has confirmed water shortages in evacuation centers in La Castellana.
Immediate relief efforts are underway, with the provincial government, private entities, and non-government organizations providing necessary supplies, including drinking water for the evacuees.
To address the critical water shortage, the Philippine Red Cross-Bacolod City Chapter has deployed water tanks with a capacity of 10,000 liters to four barangays, including two locations in La Carlota City. This measure is intended to ensure that affected residents in evacuation centers have access to clean water.
According to local government data, the eruption has affected 184 families, comprising a total of 691 individuals. La Castellana is working diligently to support and provide relief to those impacted by the disaster.
Canlaon City in Negros Oriental had already declared a state of calamity due to the volcanic eruption. Efforts are being coordinated continuously to mitigate the disaster’s impact and provide aid to affected residents, ensuring their safety and recovery.
Alert Level 2 remains over Kanlaon, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). As of 9:30 PM on June 8, it said the volcano had an elevated sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas emission from its crater.
“The volcano has been degassing increased concentrations of volcanic SO2 this year at an average rate of 1,458 tons/day, but emission since the 3 June 2024 eruption has been particularly elevated at a current average of 3,347 tons/day,” Phivolcs said in its latest advisory.
The state seismic agency also monitored an average of 33 volcanic earthquakes per day since the June 3 eruption of Mount Kanlaon.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) advised the public must wear face masks due to the degassing of Taal Volcano in Batangas.
Phivolcs explained that face masks are mandatory for residents near Taal to minimize risks of breathing difficulties.
“We advise the people (to wear masks) because if sulfur dioxide (SO2) is not dispersed immediately, it can form vog,” Phivolcs said in its advisory, referring to the presence of volcanic smog.
Taal Volcano emitted at least 11,072 tons of SO2 last Thursday, June 6. From 12 a.m. Saturday to 12 a.m. Sunday, Phivolcs recorded one volcanic earthquake based on its latest monitoring.
An upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the main crater was observed last Saturday. Vog or volcanic smog was also detected.
The volcano emitted voluminous plumes as tall as 2,400 meters before drifting north-northwest. Alert Level 1 (low-level unrest) remained in effect over Taal Volcano, which is in Batangas.
Alert phreatic eruption with a duration of two minutes and five volcanic tremors lasting three to 608 minutes were observed. — With Rio N. Araja