More than 4,400 families composed of over 14,000 individuals were forced to stay in 32 evacuation centers amid the continuous rumblings of the Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island.
Based on the latest data of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), a total of 2,680 families composed of 8,434 individuals are still housed in 22 evacuation centers in Negros Occidental while a total of 1,757 families, or 5,819 persons, are in 10 evacuation centers in Negros Oriental.
Both the national and local government units have been providing the basic needs of the evacuees, including food items and protection from the local security forces.
But the Department of Health earlier reminded camp managers to be vigilant against potential food poisoning due to improper storage of food during the holiday season.
Currently, the Task Force Kanlaon has been conducting ocular inspections of potential sites for accommodating evacuees and assess the needs of evacuation centers, which currently require functional portalets, diapers, and other resources.
“The DOH is coordinating to source these necessities, while procurement of generators will be managed by OCD,” said Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, OCD administrator and NDRRMC executive officer.
On the other hand, a total of 2,080 families composed of 6,666 people were evacuated but chose to stay with relatives in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.
School closure
Nepomuceno said the OCD has asked the Department of Education to shut down all the schools within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) of the Kanlaon Volcano, adding that the Regional Task Force (RTF) Kanlaon was tasked to the DepEd regarding the recommendation.
“The move is to protect students from potential hazards. The RTF will also inform local government units (LGUs) that no structures or residents should be allowed within the PDZ,” said Nepomuceno.
The official said the RTF was also tasked with formally notifying the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) to suspend any infrastructure construction within the four-kilometer PDZ.
Alert Level 3 was hoisted over Kanlaon Volcano on Dec. 9 after a series of volcanic activities that threatened the safety of local residents.
3 scenarios
Citing analysis from volcanologists, the OCD said the current assessments suggest a high likelihood of further eruptions based on recorded sulfur dioxide emissions.
Nepomuceno said three potential scenarios have been outlined based on the assessment of experts from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
The first involves continued Alert Level 3 with slow magma ascent, leading to effusive activity and occasional explosive events while the second could see Alert Level 4 if magma ascent accelerates due to new intrusions.
The third scenario, he said, may result in Alert Level 2 if gas loss occurs within the magma, temporarily halting eruptive activity while still posing threats.