MORE than 8,600 families, or 28,272 individuals from 34 barangays in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental have been displaced following the “explosive eruption” of Mount Kanlaon on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.
The volcano erupted Tuesday morning, from 5:51 a.m. to 6:47 a.m., causing a 4,000-meter tall bent plume to drift southwest, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
As of April 8, Mount Kanlaon has remained under Alert Level 3, which means that there is a magmatic unrest. It has been under this alert status since December 2024.
Colonel Erwin Rommel Lamzon, chief of the Division Public Affairs Office of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division of the Philippine Army, warned residents from entering the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone.
“All aircraft operations near the volcano are also restricted for safety,” he said.
Latest data revealed that 6,665 families or 21,444 individuals are now housed in 26 evacuation centers located in Canlaon City, La Castellana, La Carlota, Bago City, Pontevedra, Moises Padilla, Murcia, and San Carlos City.
Phivolcs reported 14 volcanic earthquakes and a sulfur dioxide flux of 1,655 tonnes in recent monitoring (April 7), indicating continued magmatic activity beneath the volcano.
It said a sudden acceleration in volcanic activity could escalate the status to Alert Level 4, signaling an imminent hazardous eruption.
Responding to the situation, the 3ID has deployed its units, including the 303rd Infantry (Brown Eagle) Brigade based in Murcia; 79th Infantry (Masaligan) Battalion in Sagay City; 62nd Infantry (Unifier) Battalion in Isabela; 94th Infantry (Mandirigma) Battalion in Ayungon, Negros Oriental; 542nd Engineer Construction Battalion in Himamaylan City; and the 605th Community Defense Center in Bacolod City.
These units were tasked to coordinate with local government units and disaster response agencies to support relief operations, secure the evacuated communities, and assist in logistics and transportation of affected residents.
Authorities are also monitoring the volcanic activity closely. They urged the public to follow official advisories and avoid spreading unverified information. (Leo Solinap/SunStar Philippines)