The lahar flow from Kanlaon Volcano that hit Barangay Biak na Bato, La Castellana in Negros Occidental on Saturday, May 24, destroyed one house and damaged seven.
Residents of the houses were unharmed since they have been living in evacuation centers since December, John de Asis, La Castellana, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head, said on Sunday.
The area hit by the lahar flow is within the 6-kilometer Kanlaon Volcano danger zone, he said.
Heavy rainfall that turned Kanlaon Volcano’s ashfall into lahar flow also blocked the road at Sitio Tamburong in Barangay Biak na Bato early Saturday.
The Department of Public Works and Highways, and workers from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Red Cross and local government units cleared the road of lahar by 4 p.m. Saturday and it is now passable, De Asis said.
Evacuated farmers are allowed to visit their farms within the danger zone from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and pass that road, he said.
The heavy rain washed down the volcanic ash caused by several minor to moderate eruptions at Kanlaon Volcano since last year, the latest on May 13, causing the lahar flow on Saturday, Donato Sermeno III, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCDE) Negros Island Region, said on Saturday.
Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3, which indicates a significant risk of a strong or violent eruption.
The ongoing volcanic activity, coupled with heavy rainfall, increases the potential for lahar – dangerous flows of volcanic debris mixed with water, particularly in low-lying areas and near waterways, an OCD statement said.
Residents, particularly those living near waterways and low-lying areas, are strongly urged to exercise heightened caution and remain vigilant for possible further flooding or lahar flows, Sermeno said.*