More than 85,000 Filipinos evacuated due to threat of new eruption of Kanlaon volcano

About 87 thousand Filipinos were evacuated due to the threat of a second eruption of the Kanlaon volcano on the central Philippine island of Negros, the Associated Press reported on December 10.

According to its data, urgent evacuation of the population is carried out in all settlements in the area of the western and southern slopes of the volcano. In particular, about 47 thousand residents are evacuated from the six-kilometer danger zone. People are placed in special evacuation zones, for which protective masks and food are being collected.

The first eruption of the volcano occurred the day before. The height of the ash column reached 3 kilometers. As a result of the eruption, at least six domestic flights and one flight to Singapore were canceled in the region, two more planes were diverted.

The Philippines is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of increased seismic and volcanic activity. Kanlaon Volcano reaches a height of 2,435 meters and is one of the 24 most active volcanoes in the country.

The last eruption of Kanlaon occurred in early June. Then the ash column rose to a height of 5 km and more than 1.5 thousand residents of a number of settlements were evacuated.