‘Lord, have mercy,’ Negros officials plead as Kanlaon-sparked fire spreads

window.rapplerAds.displayAd( "middle-1" );window.

rapplerAds.displayAd( "mobile-middle-1" );NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – A massive fire is sweeping through the eastern slope of Kanlaon Volcano, raising fears it could breach the six-kilometer danger zone and threaten nearby communities and Negros Island’s already-vulnerable biodiversity.Sparked by hot ballistic fragments from the volcano’s latest eruption on Tuesday, April 8, the fire is consuming grasses and trees near the crater and is proving nearly impossible to contain, authorities said.



Task Force Kanlaon chief Raul Fernandez said, “We cannot risk our men, or firefighters to climb the area where the mountain blaze is currently occurring. It’s really risky,”Must Read Kanlaon Volcano explosive eruption occurs With air response out of the question due to the continuing volcanic activity, officials are left scrambling for alternatives. Even the use of helicopters from the Philippine Air Force has been ruled out due to the dangerous conditions near the summit.

“The safest and most viable plan now is to put up a firebreak within the six-kilometer radius danger zone to prevent the fire from creeping further down,” said Fernandez. A firebreak is a gap in vegetation that helps stop a fire from spreading.He said the priority has shifted to saving lives rather than attempting to preserve the immediate environment.

But with temperatures rising, efforts to stop the spread face an uphill battle. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) forecast a heat index of 41°C in central Negros Occidental on Wednesday, April 9 – conditions that could accelerate the fire’s spread.Fernandez told Rappler, “We have no choice but to pray for rain, or ask God for a miracle to help contain the ongoing Kanlaon fire.

”“Lord, have mercy. God, have mercy..

. we are fervently praying that He may put an end now to this Kanlaon crisis,” a worried Moises Padilla town Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo posted a plea on Facebook. Moises Padilla is one of the towns in Negros Occidental located at the foot of Kanlaon, but it was not affected by the volcano’s eruptions on June 3 and December 9, 2024, and January 6 and April 8, this year.

window.rapplerAds.displayAd( "middle-2" );window.

rapplerAds.displayAd( "mobile-middle-2" );In Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, a similar tone of collective worry and introspection has emerged. “What can we sacrifice, and how can we pray for strength, safety, and solutions?” Seth Cabanes Bariga, chairperson of the city’s Youth Development Council, posted on his Facebook page.

The April 8 eruption, which lasted 56 minutes, was the longest since Kanlaon became restless again in 2024, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).Over OneNews.PH on Tuesday, Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol described it as “the longest, yet the weakest,” when compared to the previous shorter but stronger eruptions on June 3, December 9, 2024, and last January 6.

All four were phreatic eruptions – steam-driven blasts caused by groundwater interacting with hot rock. Unlike magmatic eruptions that involve lava and ash columns, phreatic explosions can be just as dangerous due to their unpredictability.As the fire rages uphill, a separate crisis has emerged down below: ashfall.

Local governments in La Castellana, La Carlota City, Bago City, and Canlaon City have begun clearing roads and distributing relief, with the help of personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Department of Public Works and Highways.Medical warnings are being issued, too. La Carlota Mayor Rex Jalando-on, a physician, cautioned residents against touching or playing with volcanic ash after a viral video showed a local covered in it as a joke.

“Volcanic ash contains abrasive particles and potentially acidic coatings that can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system,” said Health Undersecretary Mary Ann Palermo-Maestral, noting that it could also worsen asthma.Water remains a top priority. The Philippine Red Cross and the provincial government of Negros Occidental have deployed tankers to provide drinking water to affected barangays in both Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

Relief efforts continue in the following areas in Negros Occidental: La Castellana, Bago City, San Carlos City, and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental. – Rappler.com.