By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – A total of 153 barangays in Negros Occidental are identified within the lahar and Pyroclastic Density Currents (PDC) hazard zones of Kanlaon Volcano, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Phivolcs reported that 117 barangays across seven localities fall under the lahar hazard zone, while 36 barangays in four local government units (LGUs) are situated within the PDC hazard zone.
In Bago City, 14 of its 24 barangays included in the lahar hazard zone are Abuanan, Alianza, Atipuluhan, Bacong-Montilla, Binubuhan, Caridad, Dulao, Ilijan, Jorge L. Araneta (Ma-ao Central), Ma-ao Barrio, Mailum, Malingin, Napulis, and Sagasa.
Five barangays in Bago City are within the PDC hazard zone: Binubuhan, Ilijan, Ma-ao Barrio, Jorge L. Araneta, and Mailum.
In La Carlota City, 15 barangays identified in the lahar hazard zone are Ara-al, Ayungon, Balabag, Barangays 1-3 (Poblacion), Batuan, Cubay, Haguimit, La Granja, Nagasi, Roberto S. Benedicto, Consuela, San Miguel, and Yulo.
Six barangays in La Carlota City fall within the PDC hazard zone: Ara-al, Balabag, Haguimit, La Granja, San Miguel, and Yubo.
In Moises Padilla, all 15 barangays are within the lahar hazard zone. These include Barangays 1-7 in the poblacion, as well as Crossing Magallon, Guinpana-an, Inolingan, Macagahay, Magallon Cadre, Montilla, Odiong, and Quintin Remo.
In La Castellana, 11 of its 13 barangays are in the lahar hazard zone: Cabacungan, Camandag, Lalagsan, Manghanoy, Mansalanao, Masulog, Nato, Puso, Robles, Sag-ang, and Talaptap.
The same 11 barangays are included in the PDC hazard zone, namely Biak na Bato, Cabacungan, Cabagna-an, Camandag, Lalagsan, Manghanoy, Mansalanao, Masulog, Puso, Robles, and Sag-ang.
In Binalbagan, three barangays fall under the lahar hazard zone: Bagroy, Payao, and San Jose.
In Isabela, 11 of its 30 barangays are within the lahar hazard zone. These are Barangays 3 and 5 (Poblacion), Bulad, Buhangin, Camang-Camang, Guintubdan, Maytubig, Panaquiao, Rumirang, San Agustin, and Tinongan.
Six barangays in Hinigaran are in the lahar hazard zone: Aranda, Bato, Calapi, Camalobalo, Candumarao, and Palayog.
In Pontevedra, five barangays fall within the PDC hazard zone: Buenavista Rizal, Burgos, Gomez, Mabini, and Zamora.
In San Carlos City, Barangay Codcod is included in the PDC hazard zone.
The towns of Hinigaran, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, Isabela, and Binalbagan are in the fifth district. Meanwhile, La Carlota City, Bago City, and Pontevedra are in the fourth district, and San Carlos City is in the first district.
Phivolcs explained that lahar is a slurry of sediment, debris, and water that flows from a volcano to rivers and channels. It can be triggered by heavy rainfall on volcanic deposits, the rapid discharge of crater lake water, the collapse of natural or man-made dams, or the flow of PDCs into rivers or lakes.
PDCs, or Pyroclastic Density Currents, are fast-moving flows of volcanic particles, hot gases, and ash. These can occur due to the collapse or explosion of eruption columns, lava domes, or the detachment of lava flow margins.
PDCs are the most dangerous volcanic hazards, causing severe burns, asphyxiation, dynamic pressure impacts, and burial under extremely hot volcanic materials.
Authorities continue to advise residents to avoid activities within the 6-kilometer-radius extended Danger Zone (DZ) and to heed official advisories.
