Governor may put province under State of Calamity Phivolcs says another eruption possible

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is studying the possibility of declaring the province under a State of Calamity in the following Monday’s eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.

“Yes, we are setting the legal framework to declare such,” Lacson said Monday night.

He said that the province still has 30 percent of the Quick Response Fund that has not been used.

“Will this be enough depends on the activity of Kanlaon,” Lacson said.

The Office of Civil Defense as of last night reported that about 87,000 residents near the foot of the volcano were evacuated.

It said that hardest hit was the town of La Castellana with almost 47,000 individuals are within the four to six kilometer danger zone.

The evacuation was more focused in Barangay Sag-ang due to westward wind, with ashfalls even reported farther than the community.

The OCD has activated more than 10 evacuation centers in different local government units in the province, including two in the capital city of Bacolod to accommodate evacuees.

It also said that more transportation support was needed for the evacuation in Barangay Cabagnaan, as well as in some areas in Himamaylan, Hinigaran, Isabela, Pontevedra, and Moises Padilla.”

In preparation for the worst-case scenario, the OCD is preparing the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod with the capacity to accommodate up to 30,000 evacuees.

Face masks, food packs, water, hygiene kits and other needs have been provided.

Guimaras was also affected by ashfall, and Bago City recorded ashfall and sulfur odors in several barangays, prompting evacuation efforts.

La Carlota City also experienced sulfur odors and minor ashfall.

In Region VII (Negros Oriental), 50 families have been evacuated to Española Memorial School, and ongoing forced evacuations are affecting around 1,800 families and 5,000 individuals across five barangays within the 6-km. danger zone, a statement from the OCD said.

The OCD has activated Task Force Kanlaon, chaired by Regional Director Raul Fernandez, to oversee operations across both Region VI and Region VII.

Military resources from the 303rd and 302nd Army Infantry Divisions were deployed to assist in the evacuation efforts. (EYAdiong)

POSSIBLE

In its latest advisory, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said there is a possibility of another Kanlaon eruption.

With Kanlaon under Alert Level 3, it is recommending the evacuation of all individuals within the 6-kilometer danger zone.* (NDB)