Kanlaon Eruption Leads To Crop Damage & Water Contamination
KANLAON – The blast of Mount Kanlaon resulted in the contamination of water sources and the destruction of crops valued in millions of pesos across Negros Island.
Local authorities reported that the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, followed by a lahar flow triggered by Monday night’s rainfall, led to the contamination of water sources and substantial destruction of crops valued in millions of pesos across Negros Island.
In Negros Occidental province, crop damages amounted to P9.99 million, affecting areas including the cities of Bago and La Carlota, and the towns of La Castellana, Moises Padilla, and Pontevedra. Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, citing an Inquirer report, specified that losses incurred by farmers cultivating high-value commercial crops totaled P8.5 million, with rice farmers and corn farmers losing P1.36 million and P122,250, respectively.
The impact extended to Canlaon City in Negros Oriental, renowned as the “vegetable basket of the Visayas.” Canlaon City Mayor Jose Cardenas reported that approximately 1,630 vegetable farmers were affected by the volcanic ash, although precise damage assessments were pending.
While lahar flow in Canlaon managed to divert into deep rivers, thus averting further damage to roads and residential areas, water contamination in villages like Masulog and Pula remained a concern. Lacson highlighted additional challenges in La Castellana and La Carlota City, where rivers and streams were obstructed by lahar, prompting worries about the availability of potable water.
“The lack of drinking water is a major area of concern,” Lacson said.
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Efforts to address this included the establishment of mobile potable water stations. Furthermore, the aftermath of the eruption compelled around 500 residents of Barangay Biak na Bato in La Castellana to evacuate. Joselito Martinez, the village chief of Biak na Bato, underscored ongoing efforts to clear highways obstructed by lahar, urging residents to avoid consuming water from usual sources due to potential contamination.
Martinez noted a decrease in lahar flow by Thursday, suggesting a calming of the volcano’s activity.