BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Pre-emptive evacuation has been ordered in five barangays of the municipality of La Castellana in Negros Occidental as another lahar flow struck downstream communities on Friday.
Images posted on social media last Friday showed torrents of gray mud and debris, or lahar, roaring down from Guintubdan falls in La Carlota City and Baji Baji falls in Barangay Cabacungan, La Castellana.
In an advisory, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the lahar flow started at around 2:50 p.m. last Friday, persisting for 80 minutes, based on seismic records.
Phivolcs added that rainfall measured 28.22 millimeters over a 3.33-hour period, which was documented by the all-weather station of the Manghumay, Mailum, Bago City Observation Station of the Kanlaon Volcano Network.
State volcanologists emphasized the likelihood of higher rainfall volumes occurring around the summit area of the volcano.
La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan ordered pre-emptive evacuation Thursday night in Barangays Biak Na Bato, Mansalanao, Upper Masulog, Cabagnaan and Sag-ang, where there are waterways from the volcano.
The 850 families, composed of 3,255 individuals, from the five barangays are now staying at different evacuation centers in La Castellana, according to reports from the municipality’s local disaster council.
Mangilimutan also issued an executive order enforcing curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., which took effect last Friday, to regulate public and non-essential activities in La Castellana, which is now under a state of calamity, and ensure the safety of residents.
Government workers who are on duty during curfew hours, medical doctors and health personnel, as well as veterinarians, workers of public utility companies conducting construction and maintenance or emergency activities, are exempted from the curfew.
Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas reported that livelihood of about 1,600 vegetable farmers in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental were affected, due to ashfall that destroyed their crops.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that 682 families composed of 2,479 individuals in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental were affected by the volcano’s phreatic explosion.
Of the affected residents, a total of 361 families, or 1,400 persons, are now staying in eight evacuation centers, while 62 families, composed of 364 individuals, are staying outside of evacuation centers.
On the other hand, 64 families, composed of 256 individuals, are set to return to their respective homes in barangays of Haguimit, Ara-al and Yubo in La Carlota City, according to Mayor Rex Jalando.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said that no one should be allowed to reside in the permanent danger zone, based on the order of the Office of the Civil Defense.
Lacson called on residents to cooperate and comply with forced evacuation orders for their own safety.
Alert Level 2 remains in effect in Kanlaon as of last night.
The Department of Trade and Industry imposed a price freeze in La Castellana for 60 days, which took effect last Tuesday, after it was placed under a state of calamity.
DTI provincial director Lynna Joy Cardinal, who visited La Castellana to monitor the compliance of commercial establishments and retail stores, said the price freeze covered basic necessities, such as bread, noodles, canned sardines, milk, bottled water, soap and candles.
Canlaon City was also placed under a state of calamity.
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), however, reported that it is business as usual for sugar farmers, who are continuing to replant El Niño-damaged sugarcane, following Kanlaon’s phreatic explosion.
In a statement, the SRA disclosed that the rain helps neutralize the acidity of the volcanic ash, adding that the phreatic explosion had minimal damage to sugarcane fields.
Rivers and creeks already have lahar flows, but so far, no crop has been damaged, according to the SRA.
More lahar flows
Amid these developments, more lahar flows were observed following heavy rainfall over portions of Kanlaon the past few days, according to Phivolcs.
State volcanologists said cohesive and cement-like lahar flows were observed in areas surrounding the volcano in La Castallena and La Carlota City in Negros Occidental.
Lahar flows were observed along Baji-Baji Falls and Ibid Creek, in Cabacungan, La Castellana.
There were also lahar flows in Sto. Guintubdan, Ara-al in La Carlota City, as well as muddy streamflows in Buslugan, Busay Oro, Busay Abaga, Busay Mayor, Busay Kapid, Kabkaban, Ezzy, Busay Ambon and Labi Labi falls.
Channel-confined volcanic sediment flows on the southern and western slopes were detected by one seismic station, according to Phivolcs.
State volcanologists warned that occasionally heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon over Negros island could generate lahar flows, muddy streamflows or muddy run-off in rivers draining southern Kanlaon.
They warned that these lahar flows could threaten communities along the middle and lower slopes with inundation, burial and wash out.
Phivolcs also reminded residents to observe increased vigilance and readiness along rivers draining the southern Kanlaon.
There were 19 volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours, with sulfur dioxide emissions averaging at 1,412 tons per day last Thursday.
Phivolcs earlier warned of similar explosive events following the explosive eruption.
P9.9 million in crop damage
Kanlaon’s phreatic explosion in central Negros has left about P9.9 million in crop damage as of Thursday, according to reports of the Negros Occidental provincial government’s Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.
Damage by ashfall were in high-value commercial crops at P8,501,350; rice fields at P1,368,956.35 and corn at P122,250.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson admitted that the lack of drinking water in areas of La Castellana and La Carlota is now a major concern, as rivers and streams have been contaminated by lahar.
The provincial government and various local government units, as well as national agencies, among others, have set up mobile portable water stations to address the needs of affected residents.
While the Provincial Veterinarian Office has not monitored any deaths of livestock, it reported that 275 free range chickens, four goats and two pigs in Bago City, Negros Occidental, experienced respiratory problems due to ashfall and sulphuric odor.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has mobilized its resources to assist Negros Island residents affected by Kanlaon’s eruption.
PRC chairman Richard Gordon said a food truck and two water tankers have been deployed in Negros Occidental. — Romina Cabrera, Emmanuel Tupas