Eruption strands 1,500 sea travelers

SOME 1,501 passengers were left stranded at seaports in Western Visayas due to the recent eruption of Mount Kanlaon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Thursday.

Based on the latest situational report, some 20 domestic flights and one international one were canceled in Western and Central Visayas.

The same report, however, said 12 domestic flights were able to take off.

BLANKETED IN ASH An aerial view of the areas covered by ash fall from Kanlaon on June 6, 2024 following its eruption on June 3. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology put up the 4-kilometer danger zone, forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents within these areas and prompting government assistance to the victims. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES

The report said the Kanlaon eruption affected 2,088 people or 605 families in Western and Central Visayas.

Of the affected population, 1,407 individuals or 419 families were staying in 11 evacuation centers, as 177 persons or 45 families were taking shelter in other places.

Earlier, a state of calamity was declared in La Castellana, Negros Occidental and Canlaon, Negros Oriental.

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The NDRRMC also said that a total of P1.35 million in assistance has been provided to the victims so far.

On June 3, the Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island emitted plumes rising to as high as 5 kilometers.

Alert Level 2 was raised over the volcano, which means «increased unrest.»

On Wednesday, gray cohesive mud, plant debris and gravel were deposited by lahar along the four waterways due to the increased rain in La Castellana and Canlaon.

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The Department of Energy (DoE) enforced a price freeze on two areas in Negros island and Negros Oriental following their declaration of a state of calamity after the eruption of Kanlaon on Monday.

«A state of calamity (SoC) was raised in the entire city of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental and the municipality of La Castellana, Negros Occidental due to the volcanic eruption,» the DoE said.

The price freeze covers liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene products, the department said, adding that that the freeze for household LPG in cylinders