The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Friday, June 6, warned residents living near Kanlaon Volcano to be vigilant against sudden lahar flow with heavy rains brought on by a Low Pressure Area (LPA) and the Southwest Monsoon expected in Negros Island.
The heavy rains could wash down more ash fall and debris from previous Kanlaon Volcano eruptions triggering lahar flow, Donato Sermeno III, OCD Negros Island Region director, said Friday.
Cohesive and cement-like lahars occurred along the Buhangin River and beneath the Hacienda 92 Bridge in Brgy. Sag-ang and Ibid Creek in Brgy. Biak-na-bato, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, on Friday, Phivolcs said in an advisory.
Muddy steam flow was also reported at the river beneath the Intiguiwan bridge in Barangay Guinpana-an, Moises Padilla.
The OCD said residents living near rivers and channels around Kanlaon Volcano are advised to stay away from riverbanks and waterways, remain alert for possible sudden lahar flows, and follow evacuation and safety instructions from local authorities.
The public is advised to stay vigilant and prioritize safety, it said.
The OCD cited a Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration heavy rainfall outlook in Negros Occidental and Oriental on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“Forecast rainfall may be higher in mountainous and elevated areas. Moreover, impacts in some areas may be worsened by significant antecedent rainfall”, Pagasa said.
The public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to take all necessary measures to protect life and property, it added.
Phivolcs, in its Kanlaon Volcano lahar advisory on Friday, said the Southwest Monsoon season can bring occasionally heavy rains over Negros Island for a few months.
These rains could generate lahars, muddy streamflows or muddy run-off in the rivers draining the southern Kanlaon edifice particularly those that have been already affected by lahars, it said.
Lahars can threaten communities along the middle and lower slopes with inundation, burial and wash out, Phivolcs said.
Phivolcs recommended increased vigilance and readiness of communities along rivers draining southern Kanlaon.
These communities and local government units are advised to continually monitor weather conditions and take pre-emptive response measures when heavy rains, the only early-warning for lahars, are expected or have begun over the upper slopes of Kanlaon Volcano, for their safety, Phivolcs said.*