THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned of more lahar flows from Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island following the volcano’s “explosive eruption” last Monday.
Kanlaon Volcano is under Alert Level 2, which means increasing unrest. It spewed a 5,000-meter plume on Monday night.
Phivolcs, in an advisory, said lahar flowed from the volcano on Wednesday. It said thunderstorms “generated sediment flows or lahars” on the southern slopes of the volcano.
It said the lahar flow started at around 1 p.m. and lasted 25 minutes.
“Grey cohesive mud, plant debris and gravel have been deposited by lahar in at least four waterways,” said Phivolcs.
One of the waterways, the Tamburong Creek in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, overflowed and “dumped a few centimeters of deposit on a stretch of the main road in (Barangay) Biak na Bato, rendering this impassable to motorists.”
Citing forecast from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Phivolcs said thunderstorms may bring heavy rains to Negros Island.
“These rains could generate lahars, muddy stream flows or muddy run-off in the above-mentioned and other rivers draining the southern Kanlaon edifice,” said Phivolcs.
“Lahars can threaten communities along the middle and lower slopes with inundation, burial and wash out,” it added.
Phivolcs advised residents in these areas “to continually monitor weather conditions and take pre-emptive response measures for their safety from potential lahars.”
CALAMITY RESPONSE
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said it is preparing for a prolonged disaster response in connection with the calamity.
The OCD is the implementing arm of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), a multi-agency body headed by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
OCD administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said the agency is collaborating with concerned agencies and local officials for the implementation of response protocols and augmentation support amid the volcano’s continuing unrest.
“There are established preparedness and response protocols that serve as guides to address this emergency. Our regional counterparts are there, on alert, to directly assist the local DRRMOs (disaster risk reduction and management offices),” he said.
Nepomuceno made the statement shortly after a meeting with OCD and NDRRMC members at Camp Aguinaldo. The meeting was called to discuss the situation and check on their preparations for eruptions.
The NDRRMC, in situation report released yesterday, said the calamity has affected 661 families or 2,400 persons. However, reports from local government units showed a significantly larger number of affected persons.
“We need to be ready. OCD is ramping up its efforts in collaboration with concerned agencies and local authorities for possible prolonged emergency,” he added.
NDRRMC spokesman Edgar Posadas said, “We are preparing for the worst though this does not mean that will come.”
“It (problem) can be short, it can be long. But our take on this is that it’s better to be overacting and everyone is safe than we underestimate it and regret later,” said Posadas.
