SOME 1,501 passengers were left stranded at seaports in Western Visayas due to the recent eruption of Mount Kanlaon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Thursday.

Based on the latest situational report, some 20 domestic flights and one international one were canceled in Western and Central Visayas.

The same report, however, said 12 domestic flights were able to take off.

The report said the Kanlaon eruption affected 2,088 people or 605 families in Western and Central Visayas.

Of the affected population, 1,407 individuals or 419 families were staying in 11 evacuation centers, as 177 persons or 45 families were taking shelter in other places.

Earlier, a state of calamity was declared in La Castellana, Negros Occidental and Canlaon, Negros Oriental.

The NDRRMC also said that a total of P1.35 million in assistance has been provided to the victims so far.

On June 3, the Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island emitted plumes rising to as high as 5 kilometers.

Alert Level 2 was raised over the volcano, which means "increased unrest."

On Wednesday, gray cohesive mud, plant debris and gravel were deposited by lahar along the four waterways due to the increased rain in La Castellana and Canlaon.

The Department of Energy (DoE) enforced a price freeze on two areas in Negros island and Negros Oriental following their declaration of a state of calamity after the eruption of Kanlaon on Monday.

"A state of calamity (SoC) was raised in the entire city of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental and the municipality of La Castellana, Negros Occidental due to the volcanic eruption," the DoE said.

The price freeze covers liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene products, the department said, adding that that the freeze for household LPG in cylinders (11 kg and below) and kerosene products is now in effect and will remain valid for 15 days upon the declaration of the SoC, it added.

The department said price increases are prohibited during the period, while price rollbacks will still take effect.

On Wednesday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology confirmed that lahar flow triggered by continuous rain was observed in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental and La Castellana, Negros Occidental.

It also clarified that the volcano did not erupt again, contrary to what was circulating on social media sites.

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