This photo taken on June 24, 2020 shows the crater of Kanlaon volcano as seen from the town of La Castellana, Negros Occidental, central Philippines. Francis Fabiania, AFP/File

This photo taken on June 24, 2020 shows the crater of Kanlaon volcano as seen from the town of La Castellana, Negros Occidental, central Philippines. - An alert level 1 was declared on March 11 by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, advising people not to enter into a 4-kilometer radius danger zone surrounding the volcano. Francis Fabiania, AFP

KANLAON

Dennis Gasgonia

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173667684503620200624-kanlaon-volcano-AFP-.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="This photo taken on June 24, 2020 shows the crater of Kanlaon volcano as seen from the town of La Castellana, Negros Occidental, central Philippines. Francis Fabiania, AFP/File"/>This photo taken on June 24, 2020 shows the crater of Kanlaon volcano as seen from the town of La Castellana, Negros Occidental, central Philippines. Francis Fabiania, AFP/File</div>MANILA -- The Office of Civil Defense on Sunday urged local government units near Kanlaon to reconsider their decision allowing evacuees to return home amid the volcano&#x27;s recent activity.The appeal comes as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has warned of the possibility of raising the alert status of Kanlaon Volcano to alert level 4. Should this occur, the permanent danger zone may be extended from 6 kilometers to 10 kilometers.LGUs of Bago and La Castellana have reportedly allowed over 4,000 evacuees to return to their homes from outside the current six-kilometer extended danger zone of Mt. Kanlaon, according to Undersecretary Ariel F. Nepomuceno, OCD Administrator.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/1/11/ocd-urges-evacuation-of-residents-as-kanlaon-shows-signs-of-possible-eruption-1736">READ: OCD urges evacuation of residents as Kanlaon shows signs of possible eruption</a></div>“We must take anticipatory actions to prepare for the worst-case scenario of a more violent eruption. Achieving zero casualties is our utmost priority,” he said in a statement.“We are constrained to sound the alarm and urge local officials to reassess this decision. The safety of our citizens must come first.” The OCD cited that recent data indicated significant &quot;inflation&quot; in the upper sections of the volcano&#x27;s edifice. The Upper Pantao Observation Station has reported concerning electronic tilt measurements, indicating ongoing inflation on the southeastern flank since December 2024, alongside a deflation trend on the western flank. Additionally, a drastic reduction in sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions—from an average of 5,673 tons per day to just 2,029 tons—has been observed since January 9, 2025. These strongly suggest a sudden pressurization within the volcano, raising the risk of a potential eruption. “We are strongly concerned about the potential for pyroclastic density currents traveling at speeds of 30 to 600 kilometers per hour; no resident in the danger zone can escape this,” said Nepomuceno.Acknowledging the difficulties faced by residents due to prolonged stays in evacuation centers, he reaffirmed the OCD&#x27;s commitment to continuous support.PHIVOLCS observed ash emission from the Kanlaon volcano on Sunday morning, which generated plumes that rose 500 meters above the crater.As of the moment, Alert Level 3 remains over the volcano.Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development is set to send more food packs to Negros Island in anticipation of the volcano&#x27;s potential eruption.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/1/12/dswd-sends-more-food-packs-to-negros-island-in-case-of-kanlaon-eruption-1135">READ: DSWD sends more food packs to Negros Island in case of Kanlaon eruption</a></div>

The Office of Civil Defense urged local government units near Kanlaon to reconsider their decision allowing evacuees to return home amid the volcano's recent activity.

The Office of Civil Defense urged local government units near Kanlaon to reconsider their decision allowing evacuees to return home amid the volcano's recent activity.

OCD sounds alarm as LGUs near Kanlaon allow evacuees to return home amid volcanic activity | ABS-CBN

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OCD sounds alarm as LGUs near Kanlaon allow evacuees to return home amid volcanic activity

OCD sounds alarm as LGUs near Kanlaon allow evacuees to return home amid volcanic activity

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 12, 2025 07:02 PM PHT

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