Evacuation ordered in areas affected by lahar

BACOLOD CITY Pre-emptive evacuation has been ordered in five barangays of the municipality of La Castellana in Negros Occidental as another lahar flow struck downstream communities on Friday.

- GILBERT BAYORAN

Images posted on social media last Friday showed torrents of gray mud and debris, or lahar, roaring down from Guintubdan falls in La Carlota City and Baji Baji falls in Barangay Cabacungan, La Castellana.

In an advisory, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the lahar flow started at around 2:50 p.m. last Friday, persisting for 80 minutes, based on seismic records.

Phivolcs added that rainfall measured 28.22 millimeters over a 3.33-hour period, which was documented by the all-weather station of the Manghumay, Mailum, Bago City Observation Station of the Kanlaon Volcano Network.

State volcanologists emphasized the likelihood of higher rainfall volumes occurring around the summit area of the volcano.

La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan ordered preemptive evacuation Thursday night in Barangays Biak Na Bato, Mansalanao, Upper Masulog, Cabagnaan and Sagang, where there are waterways from the volcano.