Residents living near a river in Barangay Biaknabato, La Castellana town, Negros Occidental were taken on forced  evacuation to the La Castellana Elementary School on June 11, 2024 during a downpour. 

A forced evacuation was implemented as water level in the river rose again, carrying ash and other debris from Mount Kanlaon.

Arcelie Maque, a resident, said she decided to leave behind her house for the safety of her family.

“Ayaw sana namin kasi may mga hayop kaming maiiwan. Malakas. May mga batong kasama at mga buhangin na sa amin talaga papunta,” Maque said.

Floodwater reached the house of Concepcion Dy, another resident, whose house is proximate to the river.

Dy asked for help to be evacuated.

“Malakas ang ulan. Ang aking bahay ay pinasok ng tubig. Sabi ko, magdasal na lang tayo sa Diyos na hindi na maulit ang ulan kasi maraming bato,” Dy said.

Meanwhile, Segundina Mahinay, a senior citizen sought a medical checkup at the evacuation center after experiencing an asthma attack.

“Hinihika at inuubo. Sa takot ko, nilalagnat na ako,” Mahinay said.

According to the Local Government Unit (LGU), around 5,000 residents are at evacuation centers, as of posting time.

Aside from residents affected by the lahar flow, most of the evacuees are from the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone.

“Dumadami nang dumadami ang ating mga evacuee dahil pino-force natin ang areas na apektado talaga at nasa danger zone,” La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said.

The LGU has mulled on a centralized system for the distribution of assistrance to benefit all evacuees. 

According to PHIVOLCS monitoring, the parameters such as seismic activity and volcanic earthquakes have gone lesser. However, Alert Level 2 is still hoisted over Kanlaon.

“Sa Alert Level 2, pwede tayong mag-expect na may mga susunod pang phreatic explosion. Hindi natin masabi na nagsta-stabilize na ang ating volcano,” Engr. Mari Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist of Kanlaon Volcano Observatory, clarified.

According to the contingency plan of La Castellana, should the alert be raised a level higher, the entire town would be affected; it is possible to enforce a mass evacuation.