87,000 evacuated due to Philippine volcano eruption, flights cancelled



An explosive eruption occurred at the summit vent of Kanlaon volcano, as seen from Mansalanao, Negros Occidental province, on Monday. AP

About 87,000 villagers were evacuated in a central Philippine region on Tuesday, a day after a volcano briefly erupted with a towering ash plume and superhot streams of gas and debris hurtling down its western slopes.

The latest eruption of Mount Kanlaon on central Negros island did not cause any immediate casualties, but the alert level was raised one level, indicating further and more explosive eruptions may occur.

At least six domestic flights and a flight bound for Singapore were cancelled, and two local flights were diverted in the region Monday and Tuesday due to Kanlaon’s eruption, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

Volcanic ash fell on a wide area, including Antique province, more than 200 kilometres across seawaters west of the volcano, obscuring visibility and posing health risks, Philippine chief volcanologist Teresito Bacolcol and other officials said.

The mass evacuations were being carried out urgently in towns and villages nearest the western and southern slopes of Kanlaon which were blanketed by its ash, including in La Castellana town in Negros Occidental where nearly 47,000 people have to be evacuated out of a 6-kilometre danger zone, the Office of Civil Defence said.

More than 6,000 have moved to evacuation centers aside from those who have temporarily transferred to the homes of relatives in La Castellana by Tuesday morning, the town's mayor, Rhumyla Mangilimutan, told The Associated Press by telephone.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said authorities were ready to provide support to large numbers of displaced villagers and that his social welfare secretary flew early on Tuesday to the affected region.

"We are ready to support the families who have been evacuated outside the 6-kilometer danger zone," Marcos told reporters. Government scientists were monitoring the air quality due to the risk of contamination from toxic volcanic gases that may require more people to be evacuated from areas affected by Monday's eruption.

Associated Press

Tens of thousands ordered to leave due to volcanic eruption in Philippines

Mt. Kanlaon erupted on Monday – second time this year – sending hot ash and gases up to 3 kilometers into the sky

Anadolu staff |10.12.2024 - 




ANKARA

Philippine authorities on Tuesday ordered tens of thousands of people to leave their homes following eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, the strongest in recent years, local media reported.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council directed everyone living within a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) radius of the volcano to rush to safer areas.

Mt. Kanlaon erupted on Monday, second time this year, sending hot ash and gases up to 3 km (1.8 mi) in the sky and forcing residents to seek shelter, state-run Philippine News Agency reported.

It erupted for nearly four minutes on Monday, sending a plume of ash to as far as the Antique province, which lies over 200 km (124 mi) across the sea from the volcano, according to Philippine’s chief volcanologist Teresito Bacolcol.

He prohibited the citizens from staying within 4 km (2.4 mi) radius of the volcano as a “sudden and more explosive eruption” is still possible.


Schools were closed and a nighttime curfew was imposed in the most vulnerable areas. Doctors have urged those residing in the danger zones to wear masks.

Civil aviation authorities canceled at least six domestic and one international flight and two local flights to be diverted on Monday and Tuesday due to the volcanic eruption.

Nearly 10,000 individuals have so far been evacuated from five cities and towns around Mt. Kanlaon, according to the Office of Civil Defense.

The situation remained critical in La Castellana in the Negros Occidental province, where some 47,000 people reside within the 6-kilometer danger zone.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the alert level could be further elevated from level 3 to 5 of the five-step warning system as the situation remained volatile.

The government said that adequate stocks of relief supplies are ready for families affected by Kanalon's latest eruption.

The Philippines is located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common.