Kanlaon Blast Taints Water & Ruins Crops
KANLAON BLAST – The eruption of Mt. Kanlaon and the resulting lahar flow not only damaged crops worth millions of pesos on Negros Island but also polluted water sources.
The eruption of Mt. Kanlaon and subsequent lahar flow caused by rainfall on Monday night contaminated water sources and destroyed crops worth millions of pesos on Negros Island, according to local officials. In Negros Occidental province, the eruption caused P9.99 million in damage to crops in the cities of Bago and La Carlota, and the towns of La Castellana, Moises Padilla, and Pontevedra.
Based on a report from Inquirer, farmers growing high-value commercial crops reported losses of P8.5 million, rice farmers lost P1.36 million, and corn farmers lost P122,250, stated Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Farmlands in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, known as the “vegetable basket of the Visayas,” were also affected.
Canlaon City Mayor Jose Cardenas reported that 1,630 vegetable farmers were impacted by the ash from Mt. Kanlaon, although he had not yet received detailed damage figures.
He noted that lahar in Canlaon flowed through deep rivers, preventing overflow onto roads, residential areas, and additional farmlands. However, water sources in the villages of Masulog and Pula were contaminated.
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According to the report, Lacson added that rivers and streams in La Castellana town and La Carlota City were clogged with lahar, raising concerns about drinking water availability. Mobile potable water stations are being established to meet residents’ needs.
The thick mudflow following Monday’s eruption also forced about 500 residents of Barangay Biak na Bato in La Castellana to evacuate.
Joselito Martinez, the village chief of Biak na Bato, mentioned that they were clearing the highway of lahar, a grayish mudflow composed of ash and debris washed out by the rains.
Martinez advised residents not to drink water from their usual sources, warning that they were likely contaminated.
He noted that the volcano seemed to have calmed down, with reduced lahar flow observed on Thursday.