92 evacuated in Negros Occidental as Kanlaon lahar hits La Castellana

Heavy rains triggered a lahar flow down Ibid Creek in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday afternoon, forcing the evacuation of 92 residents from 27 families in a high-risk area. The Philippine Red Cross reported the flow occurred at around 5:30 p.m. in Sitio Tamburong, Barangay Biak-na-Bato after the creek overflowed. Village Councilor Allan Tomaquin coordinated the preemptive evacuation, which included vulnerable residents such as senior citizens, pregnant women, and a lactating mother. Local RC143 volunteers were deployed to provide first aid and Psychological First Aid to the displaced residents. The lahar flow had weakened by Tuesday night, and power lines and major road networks remained operational. Emergency response units continued monitoring Ibid Creek and nearby communities around Kanlaon Volcano due to the possibility of further flows.