The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is implementing safety measures in response to the potential threat of lahar flows from Kanlaon Volcano.
This comes after heavy rains triggered lahar flows on the southern slopes of the volcano in Negros Island yesterday, December 11.
According to Department of National Defense Secretary and NDRRMC Chairman Gilbert Teodoro, officials have already conducted scenario-building exercises at Camp Aguinaldo to strategize their response to the lahar threat.
Local government units (LGUs) in downstream barangays, which were previously affected by pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), have been alerted.
Following the explosive eruption on December 9, communities in the southeastern part of the volcano have experienced not only ashfall but also PDCs, exacerbating the situation.
Of the targeted 54,000 residents for evacuation, approximately 11,000 people have been relocated so far from the 6-kilometer danger zone, particularly in the towns of La Castellana and Kanlaon in Negros Oriental.
Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3, indicating a high level of unrest.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and urge residents to heed evacuation orders to ensure their safety.
