A bulldozer and three dump trucks were dispatched to clear a large flow of volcanic debris, known as lahar, that occurred after heavy rain near Mount Kanlaon in the Philippines. The removal process was expected to take some time, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Lahars are enormous flows of volcanic material triggered by heavy rainfall or snow melt, which can pose a danger to nearby villages by burying them in debris.
Teresito Bacolcol, the director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, stated that they were still assessing the extent and volume of the lahar. He also warned the public that the volcanic ash contained in the lahar was hazardous. Leah Martinez, a resident of Masulog village near the volcano, captured the moment when the volcanic debris flowed down a rocky watercourse. She recounted the loud sound that preceded the flow, which she initially mistook for another eruption.
Martinez described how she and her neighbors could not see anything at first, but then witnessed stones, ash, and water rushing down the river. It remained uncertain whether other nearby villages were affected by the lahar flow or to what extent any houses were damaged. Evacuations had been carried out around Mount Kanlaon due to falling ash, gas emissions, and the potential threat of further lahars. The state volcanology agency had raised the alert level for the volcano from one to two, signaling the possibility of more explosive eruptions.
The Philippines, situated in the highly seismic Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is home to a significant number of active volcanoes, including Mount Kanlaon. This particular volcano is just one of 24 active ones in the archipelago nation. Given the volatile nature of volcanic activity in the region, the authorities are closely monitoring the situation at Mount Kanlaon to ensure the safety of the surrounding communities. The deployment of heavy machinery to clear the lahar signifies the efforts being made to mitigate the impact of potential volcanic hazards in the area.
