• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said Feb. 26 that it will “assess monitoring parameters within the next 24 hours for possible changes in the current alert level status” of Mt. Kanlaon, following the second moderately explosive eruption this month.
Phivolcs said that at 7:04 p.m. Feb. 26, it logged a moderately explosive eruption at the summit crater of Kanlaon that lasted two minutes, and generated a plume that rose 2,500 meters above the crater before drifting southwest.
“Incandescent ballistics were observed to have rained around the crater while pyroclastic density currents, PDCs, descended the eastern and southeastern upper slopes within two kilometers of the summit crater,” it added.
At 4:39 p.m. Feb. 19, a two-minute moderately explosive eruption also occurred at the volcano, generating a dark gray eruption plume that rose 2,000 meters above the crater before drifting southwest. PDCs also descended the southern and southwestern upper slopes.
Alert Level 2, or moderate unrest, prevails over Kanlaon since July 29 last year, from magmatic unrest (Level 3) following its explosive eruption on Dec. 9, 2024.
The Negros Occidental Operations Center said last night that the latest eruption has affected barangays in 11 local government units, including Bago, Binalbagan, La Carlota, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, Isabela, San Carlos, Himamaylan, Pontevedra, and Kabankalan.
Mayor Raymund Tongson has suspended work in all government offices and private institutions, as well as classes in all levels, in Himamaylan today, Feb. 27, “due to the moderate to heavy ashfall currently affecting our area following the Mt. Kanlaon eruption.”
The suspension is implemented to prioritize the health and safety of all Himamaylanons, as prolonged exposure to volcanic ash may pose respiratory and other health risks,” Tongson said in a statement. “We strongly advise all Himamaylanons to stay indoors, wear masks, and take necessary precautions to protect your health.”
In Bacolod, Mayor Greg Gasataya urged everyone to be cautious since “ashfall and other indirect effects may reach Bacolod, depending on wind conditions. As a precaution, please limit outdoor activities and wear a mask when going outside.”
In Pontevedra, Mayor Jose Maria Alonso suspended classes at Pandan Elementary School and Camingawan ES in Barangay Antipolo to “give way to the flushing and clearing operations to be conducted by the Bureau of Fire Protection to remove accumulated ash from school grounds and facilities.”
Residents of affected barangays are strongly advised to observe precautionary measures, like wearing face masks when going outdoors and ensuring that children, the elderly, and those with comorbidities remain indoors as much as possible.
The DSWD-Negros Island Region, meanwhile, said it is ready to assist families affected by the eruption, adding that 222,038 family food packs, 10,549 ready-to-eat food boxes and 16,264 non-food items are on standby in its various warehouses. | CGC
