On Monday afternoon, December 9, 2024, Mt. Kanlaon on Negros Island erupted, prompting Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas to issue an urgent evacuation order for residents living within the four-kilometer permanent danger zone. The eruption, which was captured on camera from Barangay Biaknabato in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, saw the volcano spewing volcanic ash and pyroclastic materials into the air.
Mayor Cardenas, in a video message shared on the city’s official Facebook page, SALTA Canlaon Official, specifically called on residents of the villages of Lumapao, Malaiba, Pula, and Nasulo to evacuate immediately. He emphasized the severity of the situation, noting that the area is now under Alert Level 3. ‘I urge everyone, especially in these barangays, to evacuate without delay. We are at Alert Level 3, and our safety must come first,’ Cardenas stated in Cebuano.
The mayor advised residents to be ready for the worst-case scenario and to prioritize their safety over material possessions like homes, farms, and livestock. Teams from the local government have been deployed to assess the situation and conduct inspections within the danger zone. The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Incident Command System have been activated to coordinate emergency responses.
Cardenas also recommended that residents wear face masks or damp cloths to shield themselves from the harmful pyroclastic materials being ejected during the ongoing volcanic activity. In response to the eruption, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has sent a team to Canlaon City to assist with the situation.