The province of Negros Occidental has been placed under a state of calamity following an explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on Monday, 9 December.

The local government of Negros Occidental said one of the factors that led to the declaration was the impact on eight cities of the province.

The affected areas include Bago City, La Castellana and La Carlota, among others.

Under a state of calamity, a portion of the calamity fund will be released to support relief and rehabilitation efforts for residents of Negros Occidental. Additionally, a price freeze will be implemented on basic necessities and commodities.

Several roads in Bago City remain covered in ash, posing a danger to travelers.

In Bago City alone, 585 families, or 2,046 individuals, are currently seeking shelter. Local officials have reported ongoing flushing operations to clear the ash from roads.

Last Thursday, the Philippine Air Force deployed two Black Hawk helicopters to assess the volcano alongside members of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 7.

Following the assessment, officials met with Governor Eugenio Lacson at the provincial capitol to discuss the situation.

According to the latest Phivolcs advisory, Mt. Kanlaon has emitted 7,019 tons of sulfur dioxide, accompanied by two recorded volcanic earthquakes.

With Kanlaon remaining at Alert Level 3, authorities have warned that similar or even more intense eruptions could occur in the coming days or weeks.