Philippines: Evacuations ongoing following eruptive activity at Kanlaon volcano, Negros Island, as of Dec. 10 /update 1

Evacuations are ongoing following eruptive activity at Kanlaon volcano in Negros Occidental Province, close to the border with Negros Oriental Province, as of Dec. 10. An explosive eruption occurred at the volcano around 15:03 Dec. 9, producing an ash plume rising to around 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) above the crater. Ashfall was reported across a wide area of the Visayas islands, traveling as far as Antique Province around 200 km (124 miles) from the volcano. Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) descended around 2-3.5 km (1.2-2.2 miles) down the slopes of the volcano and other volcanic material, increased seismic activity, and sulfur emissions have also been observed. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOLCS) raised the warning for Kanlaon volcano from Alert Level 2 to Level 3 Dec. 9 following the eruption, indicating further explosive eruptions are possible.

Authorities have established a 6 km (4 miles) evacuation zone around the crater. Around 87,000 people reside within the evacuation zone; however, as of Dec. 10, authorities have only confirmed around 9,400 evacuees from La Castallena, Bago City, La Carlota City, Pontevedra, Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental Province. Entry to the volcano is also restricted. At least six domestic and one international flight were canceled Dec. 10 due to the volcanic activity; further disruptions to flights are likely in the region over the coming days. Nighttime curfews are in place for some areas close to the volcano and schools are closed not only in areas of Negros Occidental Province close to the summit but also in parts of Antique, Guimaras, and Iloilo provinces.

Further eruptions could cause localized transport disruptions; if an eruption creates a significant ash plume, further flight delays could occur at airports in the region. Ground transport disruptions could also occur. Falling ash could cause slick driving conditions on nearby roads and reduced visibility, leading to localized traffic disruptions.

Volcanic activity may impact air quality in the areas around Kanlaon. Individuals in the region - especially those with underlying pulmonary conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or lung cancers - may experience difficulty breathing and could suffer from lower tolerance to physical exertion.