Residents near Kanlaon have been advised to evacuate after the volcano showed signs of possible eruption soon.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) appealed to residents even outside of the six-kilometer extended danger zone including La Castellana, Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City, to heed official warnings. 

“Lives are far more important than properties and livelihood,” OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said in a statement Saturday. 

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has issued an advisory indicating heightened ground deformation at the volcano. 

Monitoring data from the Kanlaon Volcano Network (KVN) reveals significant inflation in the middle to upper sections of the volcano’s eastern edifice, evident since the evening of January 10. Electronic tilt measurements recorded by the Upper Pantao Observation Station, located at 1,056 meters elevation, showed an abrupt increase in inflationary tilt starting at 7:20 PM, suggesting sudden pressurization within the volcano, said the OCD in its report.

“I appeal to all residents, even those outside the six-kilometer extended danger zone, to take this situation seriously and evacuate immediately. We want no casualties in the event of an eruption,” said Nepomuceno.

Nepomuceno also warned that “no responders will attempt to get inside the danger zones to execute rescue operations should an eruption occur. It is crucial for everyone’s safety to evacuate now.”

The Electronic Distance Meter (EDM) measurements tracked patterns closely mirrored those recorded prior to the December 9 eruption, which resulted in significant ashfall and local evacuations.

Aside from notifying the residents, civil aviation authorities have been alerted to prevent flights near the volcano, as ash clouds from any sudden eruption could pose serious hazards to air traffic.