OCD orders mandatory evacuation near Kanlaon Volcano

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents within a six-kilometer danger zone around Kanlaon Volcano due to heightened activity and the threat of lahar flows.

Lahar first flowed around midnight on Saturday, December 14, following Kanlaon's December 9 eruption, with heavy rains on Sunday, December 15, exacerbating the hazard.

Rivers in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, such as the Intiguiwan River and Baji-Baji River, are already thick with volcanic debris.

Mayors of Moises Padilla and La Castellana have activated their local disaster response teams to monitor waterways and manage the situation.

OCD Regional Director Raul Fernandez directed local governments to complete evacuations by Monday, December 16.

The OCD previously urged residents to evacuate due to an accumulation of approximately three million cubic meters of lahar, exacerbated by recent rainshowers.

Despite the order, some residents, including indigenous peoples in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, are refusing to leave their homes.

Canlaon City officials are reportedly facing challenges in supporting displaced populations due to insufficient funds.