Asia and the Pacific: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (3 - 9 December 2024)

PHILIPPINES

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised Alert Level 3 over Mt. Kanlaon (located in Negros Island, around 520 km south of Manila) following an eruption that produced a voluminous plume that rose 3,000 meters above the vent on 09 December around 3pm local time. Alerts are on a scale from 1 to 5 with level 3 categorized as a "high level of volcanic unrest". Under Alert Level 3 there could be sustained increases in the levels of volcanic earthquakes and more frequent steam/ash explosions. Residents are now advised to stay clear of the 6 kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around the volcano. Previously, under Alert level 2, over 3,000 people were evacuated in Bago City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Pontevedra, Moises Padilla, and Canlaon City. With the higher alert level, the number of affected is expected to increase with a wider coverage of the PDZ. The national government, local authorities have facilitated the evacuation of affected communities. Local partners in the area continuing to monitor the situation.

INDONESIA

Between 3 and 9 December, floods, landslides, and extreme weather events across 25 districts and municipalities across Java and Sumatra Islands resulted in the loss of 24 lives and temporarily displaced nearly 100,000 people, while damaging approximately 2,150 houses. According to the Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysics Agency, these events were partly attributed to a weak La Niña phenomenon and the influence of Tropical Cyclone 91S in the southern part of Java. The rainy season in most regions of the country is expected until February 2025.