The preemptive evacuation of residents living close to Kanlaon Volcano that is still likely to erupt continued during the weekend in La Castellana town in Negros Occidental and in Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
Kanlaon had 13 volcanic earthquakes and spewed 10,880 tons of sulfur dioxide from 12 a.m. Saturday to 12 a.m. Sunday, Phivolcs reported.
The volcano’s activities still indicate that an eruption is possible, La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan said on Sunday, Sept. 15.
Preemptive evacuation in the 4 to 6 kilometer danger zone continued during the weekend bringing the total number of evacuees from barangays Masulog, Cabagnaan, Biak na Bato and Mansalanao to 864 families with 2,682 members, she said.
If the volcano’s alert level is raised from two to three there will be total evacuation of residents in the 6-kilometer danger zone, she said. Initially the danger zone was set at 4 kilometers.
The Office of the Civil Defense has advised them to start evacuating residents now because should an eruption occur they may have difficulty bringing everybody to safety right away, especially the elderly, pregnant and the children, she said.
The mayor said four families with 17 individuals from Brgy Sag-ang, La Castellana, were also evacuated due to flooding.
In Canlaon City 212 families with 667 members from barangays Linothangan, Lumapao, Malaiba and Masulog that are close to the volcano have also evacuated, the city government reported Saturday.
This shows a slight increase in the number of evacuees, particularly in barangays Lumapao and Linothangan, where additional families have been displaced by the heavy rains, it said.
The Canlaon City Health Office, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), is closely monitoring the health of evacuees, with respiratory issues remaining a top concern due to sulfur dioxide emissions from Mt. Kanlaon.