Daven Tamayo

OCD: Only 12K out of 56K individuals evacuated from Kanlaon's permanent danger zone

This photo taken on June 18, 2016 shows plume of whitish-grey ash launching into the air, about 1.5 kilometres (almost a mile) from the crater of Mount Kanlaon, after an eruption, as seen from a village in Canlaon town, Negros Oriental province, central Philippines. - The rumbling volcano in the central Philippines shot a huge column of ash into the sky on June 18, prompting the official aviation agency to warn aircraft to stay away, authorities said. Diego Santiago, AFP

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The government continues its efforts to evacuate residents living within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone around Mount Kanlaon in Negros Occidental.  Office of Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Administration Raffy Alejandro said only 12,000 out of 56,000 individuals within the permanent danger zone have been evacuated.&quot;Hindi naman talaga sila nagri-resist ‘no, pero gusto lang nila na masigurado iyong lilipatan nila, ma-secure iyong mga kabahayan nila and of course inaalala din nila iyong mga hayop na dapat kasama din nila,&quot; Alejandro said in an interview.As of now, 37,699 individuals or close to 11,000 families are affected by the recent eruption, according to the OCD official.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2024/12/10/phivolcs-warns-vs-very-dangerous-emissions-from-kanlaon-volcano-1510">PHIVOLCS warns vs &#x27;very dangerous&#x27; emissions from Kanlaon Volcano</a></div>Close to 3,700 families, or 12,378 individuals ,have been staying in 29 evacuation centers.He added that the ashfall affected Bago City in Negros Occidental with traces reaching Iloilo City.The OCD official also noted that Task Force Kanlaon has been formed to focus on the evacuation efforts currently in effect in three municipalities.&quot;Kinausap na natin iyong task force kasama ang PNP ‘no na they will enforce itong order na ito para naman ito sa kaligtasan nila at dahan-dahan po, we will make sure na we will provide the necessary logistical support, iyong mga transportation na kailangan para po ma-effect itong mandatory evacuation,&quot; Alejandro added.(We have talked to the task force and the PNP. They will enforce order and we will make sure we will provide the necessary logistical support and transportation) The OCD official assured that the government is on top of the situation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and local government units ensuring the supply of food packs and other necessities of evacuees.For now, the OCD is preparing for any eventualities especially once Mount Kanlaon is placed under Alert Level 4 where a hazardous eruption is imminent.When that happens, the danger zone will be extended to up to 10 kilometers around the3 volcano.&quot;So, mas marami na pong i-evacuate diyan, aabot na tayo based sa aming datos ‘no, halos aabot na tayo sa 139,000 individuals ang kailangang i-evacuate,&quot; he explained. (That will mean more people to evacuate, up to 139,000 individuals)He said that family food packs as well as evacuation centers and wash facilities have to be ready if that happens.Alejandro added that they are also preparing the areas that are at risk of lahar flow, noting that they monitoring a potential low pressure area next week. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2024/12/9/kanlaon-volcano-erupts-alert-level-raised-to-3-1541">Kanlaon Volcano erupts; alert level raised to 3</a></div>He called on the affected communities to follow the instructions of authorities for their own safety.The agriculture department, for its part, continues to coordinate with local government units to validate the extent of agricultural damage caused by the eruption.Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said they will provide interventions to sugarcane farmers and other farmers whose crops were damaged.&quot;Inuna na natin iyong mga livestock natin dahil sila iyong unang naapektuhan at nagbigay na tayo ng mga biologics at drugs para magamot sila at matulungan,&quot; he said. (We gave assistance for livestock because they were the first affected. We have given biologics and drugs)

The government continues its efforts to evacuate residents living within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone of Mount Kanlaon in Negros Occidental.

The government continues its efforts to evacuate residents living within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone of Mount Kanlaon in Negros Occidental.