By JEN BAYLON
The ban on entering Kanlaon Volcano’s six-kilometer extended danger zone has been lifted, but with tightened restrictions, despite renewed volcanic activity in the past days.
“The suspension of entry to the six-kilometer extended danger zone from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to carry out farming and other essential activities is hereby lifted,” the Task Force Kanlaon said in a statement.
However, the residents are required to return to evacuation centers by afternoon for their safety, the task force said.
Meanwhile, Donato Sermeno III, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense in the Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR), emphasized that farmers must secure endorsements from their local government units and the Department of Agriculture before entering the zone.
Sermeno acknowledged that previous lapses in controlling access during quieter volcanic periods prompted increased vigilance by border control and camp management teams.
The easing of the prohibition was announced despite a moderately explosive eruption taking place at Kanlaon in the early morning on Tuesday, May 13.
OCD-NIR said the volcanic hazard at Kanlaon remains significant.
Recent observations show that pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) have extended up to two kilometers from the summit, a marked increase from the 800 meters recorded during the April 8 eruption, indicating an escalating volcanic force.
There are only six volcanic earthquakes recorded at Kanlaon on Wednesday, May 14.
Sulfur dioxide flux averaging 2,078 tons per day and a plume of 200 meters tall were also observed at the volcano, the task force said.
Sermeno warned that a major eruption could still occur, underscoring the need for continuous caution and preparedness among residents and authorities alike.
Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 3, signaling ongoing magmatic unrest with the potential for sudden explosive eruptions, lava flows, ashfall, and other volcanic hazards.
Earlier, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) clarified that Kanlaon’s recent eruption on Tuesday morning was not considered a worst-case scenario.
Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol described the eruption as moderate, lasting approximately five minutes.
Bacolcol said it was significantly shorter and less intense than the previous eruption on April 8, which lasted 56 minutes.
Resettlement sites
Negros Occidental’s San Carlos City was not included on the list of permanent evacuation centers and relocation sites for internally displaced families due to non-identification of locations, Sermeno said during the second quarter meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office yesterday.
Sermeno said San Carlos has identified the need for the relocation of its affected residents and the construction of a permanent evacuation center, especially for the residents of Barangay Codcod.
Three barangays in La Carlota City and La Castellana are expected to become permanent evacuation centers but are feared to be affected by PDC in the event of a major eruption.
These are Barangays Haguimit, San Miguel and La Granja in La Carlota City; and Barangays Paratap, Talap and Lalag in La Castellana town./JB, WDJ