Volcanic Crisis: Mass Evacuation Underway in the Philippines

As the threat of further eruptions looms, the Philippine government has mobilized resources to protect residents and assess the damage from Mount Kanlaon's violent eruption.

Nearly 90,000 individuals were ordered to evacuate their homes on the central island of Negros following a powerful eruption of Mount Kanlaon, which sent a two-mile-high plume of ash, lava, and debris into the atmosphere. The eruption occurred on Monday afternoon, prompting immediate action from the authorities to ensure public safety.

“The impact of this eruption is severe; it has the potential to devastate everything in its vicinity including people, wildlife, and infrastructure,” stated Teresito Bacolcol, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. “The risk for further eruptions remains high.”

In response to the eruption, officials elevated the volcano's alert level from 2 to 3, indicating an increased likelihood of sudden and more intense explosions. The highest alert level is categorized as 5, signaling a major volcanic crisis.

A danger zone extending 6 kilometers, or approximately 3.7 miles, from the volcano has been established. Within this perimeter, around 47,000 residents in the upland town of La Castellana are directly impacted, according to the Office of Civil Defense.

To accommodate those displaced, the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City has been designated as the primary evacuation center, with a capacity of 30,000 people. Additional shelters are being set up across eleven nearby villages.

The Philippines is home to roughly 100 volcanoes, of which 24 are currently active. It is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for its seismic activity, housing 75 percent of the planet's volcanoes. Historically, Mount Kanlaon has recorded over 40 eruptions since 1866, including a tragic incident in 1996 that claimed three hikers' lives.