Hundreds of residents in critical villages near Mt. Kanlaon in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, have evacuated as the volcano continues to pose an imminent threat with its increased seismic activity.
Edna Lhou Masicampo, Canlaon City information officer-designate, said that as of Wednesday morning, 92 families, totaling 301 individuals, are now at evacuation centers with some of them staying with relatives.
The evacuees are from barangays Masulog, Pula, Malaiba, and Lumapao, all situated in the 4-kilometer radius permanent danger zone of Mt. Kanlaon.
Masicampo said the local government has provided food packs, kitchen kits, hygiene kits, sleeping kits, family kits, water and face masks since the mandatory evacuation started Tuesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas has ordered the suspension of classes at all levels in both public and private schools for an indefinite period due to the tectonic-volcanic earthquakes and excessive sulfur dioxide emissions at Mt. Kanlaon.
The cancellation of classes was earlier limited only to the four critical barangays.*PNA