DUMAGUETE CITY – Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental called on his constituents to step up vigilance following the explosive eruption of Mt. Kanlaon early Tuesday.
“To the people of Canlaon City, please be ready as we do not know the extent of this eruption,” Cardenas said in a post on the city’s official Facebook page.
He addressed those living in the volcano's 6-km area in particular, the Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) of the volcano, not to let their guard down.
The mayor called for prayers and assured that the safety of the people is of utmost priority.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the volcano's explosive eruption occurred at 5:51 a.m. and was ongoing at the time of its social media post.
Phivolcs wrote on Facebook that the eruption occurring at the summit of the volcano’s vent was “producing a voluminous bent plume approximately 4,000 meters tall that is drifting southwest”.
The Canlaon LGU has already ordered the suspension of entry to the 6-km PDZ following the eruption.
Likewise, the city government has canceled face-to-face classes in all schools, according to the RP1 report.
Hundreds of families are still staying at evacuation centers in the city since the Dec. 9, 2024 eruption while others have left to join their relatives outside the danger zone.
In recent months, the local government unit issued day passes to farmers who returned to their farms in the PDZ but were required to go back to the evacuation centers before sundown.
This is the volcano's third eruption, with the first on June 3, 2024.
Alert Level 3 remains in effect, the Phivolcs said. (PNA)