(UPDATE) KANLAON Volcano in Negros Island erupted Monday, sending a huge ash column into the sky, prompting officials to order the evacuation of residents living in danger zones.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said an explosive eruption occurred at the summit vent of Kanlaon Volcano at 3:03 p.m.
“All local government units are advised to evacuate the 6-kilometer (4-mile) radius from the summit of the volcano and must be prepared for additional evacuation if activity warrants,” it added.
ERUPTION Kanlaon Volcano erupts on Dec. 9, 2024, prompting officials to raise its alert level and order the evacuation of residents living in danger zones. SCREEN GRAB FROM DOST VIDEO
“Evacuations are ongoing” in four upland villages of La Castellana town, on the volcano’s southwest slope, municipal police officer Staff Sergeant Ronel Arevalo told Agence France-Presse, adding he did not have the total number of residents to be evacuated.
Phivolcs said the plume rose 3,000 meters above the vent, with red-hot ashes and other materials also falling on its southeastern slope.
The activity means “magmatic eruption has begun that may progress to further explosive eruptions,” it added. The alert level was raised from 2 to 3.
The Office of Civil Defense said emergency evacuations were done in coordination with local and disaster management officials.
It said that 12,000 families, or 54,000 individuals in Regions 6 and 7, would be affected by the eruption. The Incident Action Command Center will be reactivated to coordinate response efforts effectively.
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