Around 12,000 families or 54,000 individuals in Western and Central Visayas will be affected following the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano yesterday afternoon, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said.

The OCD also said evacuation is ongoing for residents who are within a six-kilometer radius of the volcano.

“In Region 6, approximately 20,000 individuals from 12 barangays are expected to be impacted by the eruption. Authorities are preparing for the worst-case scenario of raising the alert level to Level 4 if necessary, which would necessitate further evacuation and safety measures,” the agency said in a statement.

Located in Canlaon, Negros Oriental, the volcano erupted at 3:03 p.m. which produced a voluminous plume that rose to 3,000 meters above the vent and drifted west-southwest.

The explosive eruption prompted the Phivolcs to raise the status to Alert Level 3, which indicates magmatic unrest.

“Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. has issued important directives to respond and assist immediately, particularly in evacuating affected residents to avoid casualties,” the OCD added. “Regional directors from the OCD in Regions 6 and 7 are actively engaged in these critical efforts.”

The Inter-Agency Coordinating Cell will be reactivated and will comprise representatives from the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to coordinate response efforts effectively, the OCD said.

In Canlaon City, residents were mandated to wear face masks to prevent respiratory diseases from sulfur dioxide. A curfew and a liquor ban are now in effect.

Phivolcs said Kanlaon Volcano had six volcanic earthquakes and had a 16-minute-long ash emission event.

It also released 4,638 tonnes of sulfur dioxide on Sunday, December 8, as well as a moderate 300-meter tall plume. (GMA Integrated News)