• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Ashfall hit 40 barangays in seven local government units in central Negros, following the two-minute moderately explosive eruption at the Kanlaon Volcano crater at 4:38 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19.
In a report, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the explosive eruption generated a dark gray eruption plume that rose 2,000 meters above the crater before drifting southwest.
Pyroclastic density currents were observed to have descended on the southern and southwestern upper slopes within one kilometer of the summit crater as recorded by the internet protocol cameras of the Kanlaon Volcano Network.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said that light ashfall and sulfur stench were reported in the villages of Ilijan, Mailum and Binubuhan in Bago City; San Miguel, Ara-al, Cubay, Nagasi and La Granja in La Carlota City; and Barangay Odiong in Moises Padilla.
Light ashfall were also experienced by residents of Zamora, Gomez, Mabini, Burgos, Rizal, Antipolo, Canroma, M.H. del Pilar, Pandan and Cambarus in Pontevedra; Cabagnaan and Sag-ang in La Castellana; Miranda, Gargato, 1, 2, 3, 4, Anahaw, Cambaog, Narawis, Tuguis, Baga-as, Bato, Nanunga, Calapi, Quiwi, Himaya, and Pilar in Hinigaran; and Batuan and Guintorilan in Valladolid.
The Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) reported that shockwaves were also experienced by residents of La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, San Enrique, and Hinigaran, all in Negros Occidental.
However, the OCD-NIR did not order any preemptive evacuation as of last night.
Evacuation of residents at Sitio Guintubdan in Barangay Ara-al, La Carlota City was ongoing Thursday night.
Suspension of classes at all levels, both in public and private, takes effect Friday in La Carlota City and La Castellana.
Alert Level 2 is maintained over Kanlaon Volcano and entry into the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone must be strictly prohibited, according to Phivolcs.
PDRRMO head Irene Bel Ploteña said they dispatched two water tankers to La Carlota City and these were augmented by the fire truck sent by the Bureau of Fire and Protection-Pontevedra.
The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region and the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade also activated their respective contingency and response measures, following the Kanlaon volcano eruption. | GB
