Lahar, mud flows hit Kanlaon-affected areas

BACOLOD CTY, Philippines — Heavy rain spawned by a low-pressure area (LPA) and the southwest monsoon sent lahar and mud deposits cascading down the slopes of Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Occidental on Friday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Phivolcs said cement-like lahar deposits flowed along waterways in La Castellana while mud from ashfall settled in a river in Moises Padilla.

Expecting the LPA and the monsoon to dump heavy rain during the weekend, state volcanologists and officials of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) issued separate advisories regarding the occurence of lahar and mud flows.

Phivolcs and the OCD said the rain could trigger lahar and mud flows in rivers draining the southern edifice of Kanlaon.

Continued lahar flows can submerge communities located on the middle and lower slopes of the volcano, Phivolcs said.

State volcanologists said that on Friday, cement-like lahar deposits flowed in the Buhangin River as well as under the Hacienda 92 Bridge and Ibid Creek in the villages of Sag-ang and Biak-na-bato in La Castellana, respectively.

Muddy stream flow was reported under the Intiguiwan Bridge in Barangay Guinpana-an in Moises Padilla, Phivolcs said.

The OCD advised residents living near river channels around Kanlaon to stay away from riverbanks and waterways.

The public has been urged to watch out for sudden lahar and mud flows, and heed evacuation and safety instructions issued by authorities.

Donato Sermeno III, chief of the OCD-Negros Island Region, said that more volcanic debris generated by the recent eruption may cascade down the slopes of Kanlaon if the rain persists.