(2nd UPDATE) The local government unit of Canlaon in Negros Oriental has ordered evacuation of residents of four barangays that are located inside the permanent danger zone.

This followed after the eruption of Mount Kanlaon Monday evening. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said that its volcanic plume reached 5,000 meters.

Phivolcs Director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol said the eruption lasted for six minutes, and there were reports of ashfall.

Mayor Jose Cardenas said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency Dumaguete that all residents in the barangays of Masulog, Pula, Lumapao and Malaiba should move to the evacuation center.

"All residents including their livestock," said Cardenas. 

Based on the city’s latest figures, 81 individuals or 22 households were evacuated from Barangay Pula and 98 individuals from Barangay Masulog or 21 households.

Cardenas also said they are now at the designated evacuation centers in their respective barangays.

Meanwhile, they are working on the evacuation of residents in Barangays Lumapao and Malaiba.

These four barangays are part of the permanent danger zone.

"We also activated our incident command system," said Mayor Cardenas.

Several residents already complained of the smell of the ash fall that came from the eruption. Face masks are now also being given out by the LGU.

"Our priority is the safety of our residents. Please stay calm, follow all official advisories and cooperate with our response teams," the mayor added.

DSWD AID TO ARRIVE TUESDAY

On Tuesday, over 10,000 food packs are expected to arrive at Canlaon City from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

There are also 130 hygiene kits at over 5,000 facemasks that will arrive.

Schools are being prepared to function as evacuation centers, while Cardenas has declared a suspension of work in all offices on Tuesday, June 4, for both private and government entities.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian is also expected to arrive in Negros Oriental tomorrow to conduct a coordination meeting with local officials.

The eruption that occurred earlier at 6:51 p.m. was classified as steam-driven or a phreatic eruption.

Meanwhile, operations of the Bacolod-Silay Airport were not affected by the eruption, according to Area 6 Manager Eusebio Joebon Monserate, Jr. The operations of Dumaguete Airport are also normal, according to airport manager Allan Punay.

Mount Kanlaon or the Kanlaon Volcano is the highest mountain peak in the island of Negros.

As of 8 p.m., Phivolcs has raised the alert level of Kanlaon Volcano to Alert Level 2 following the eruption.

They also said the eruption produced a "voluminous and incandescent plume that rapidly rose to 5,000 meters."

"The eruption lasted six (6) minutes based on the seismic record and was preceded by a relatively strong volcano-tectonic earthquake. Reports of coarse ashfall and sulfurous odors have been reported in communities on western slopes of the volcano," Phivolcs added.

By raising the alert level to Level 2, Phivolcs said "there is current unrest driven by shallow  magmatic processes that could eventually lead to further explosive eruptions or even precede hazardous magmatic eruption."

"The public is strongly advised to be vigilant and avoid the four (4) kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) to minimize risks from sudden explosions, rockfall and landslides," it added. 

OCD IN COORDINATION WITH REGIONAL COUNTERPARTS

Mount Kanlaon's last eruption was in December 2017, marking nearly five years since its previous activity. Phivolcs director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol noted that the volcano erupted in 2016, 2015, and 2006. He also added that historically, the volcano has had approximately 30 eruptions since 1866, averaging one every five years.

"Yung last eruption prior to this one was in 2017 and then 2016 meron din siyang eruption… 2015 and then after that 2006 na. So between 2015 and 2006, that’s 9 years, and then halos from 2015, 2016, 2017, and then wala naman siyang activity until today," he added. 

Bacolcol shared that in recent days, minor earthquakes have been recorded around Mount Kanlaon, with magnitudes reaching up to 1.6. Residents living near the volcano have felt these tremors.

The Office of Civil Defense, for its part, said it is closely coordinating with its regional counterparts regarding the situation.

“As we speak, this is still manageable at the level of the local DRRMOs but we are on alert and ready to provide necessary assistance if needed. We will provide continuous updates,” it said in a statement.

 “We urge the affected residents to stay vigilant and heed authorities' warnings and advisories,” it added. — with a report from Addie Cuadra, ABS-CBN News