Over 200 individuals evacuated due to Mt. Kanlaon volcanic unrest

Eighty-eight families or 248 individuals have been evacuated in Canalon City, Negros Oriental amid the volcanic unrest of Mt. Kanlaon, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

In a statement on Wednesday, DSWD Field Office 7 reported that 65 families or 204 individuals from Barangay Masulong have been evacuated to the Masulog High School.

Meanwhile, 10 families or 31 individuals from Barangay Malaiba have taken temporary shelter in Malaiba Elementary School.

DSWD also said 3 families or 13 individuals from Barangay Pula have been evacuated to Pula Elementary School.

DSWD Field Office 7 regional director Shalaine Lucero said its office is working with the Canlaon local government for the emergency response plan.

“I am reaching out to the Canlaon City mayor, Negros Oriental governor and Cong. Joselyn (Limkaichong) to assure then of our preparedness for disaster response and augmentation of relief items,” Lucero said.

Meanwhile, DSWD Field Office 6 regional director Carmelo Nochete reported that it has 32,990 boxes of family food packs in Bacolod City and more than 37,000 food packs prepositioned in Negros Occidental.

Nocheta also said DSWD has around 7,000 boxes of family food packs and non-food items that have been prepositioned in Canalon City.

He added that in Negros Oriental, there are some 14,000 family food packs stockpiled in the DSWD warehouse in Dumaguete City while 3,400 boxes of family food packs are in the agency’s storage facility in Vallehermoso town.

PHIVOLCS earlier logged 288 earthquakes at Kanlaon Volcano since Monday night, indicating increased seismic activity.

On Wednesday, state volcanologists reported that Kanalon Volcano has emitted plumes up to 1,000 meters tall and has at least 337 volcanic earthquakes.

Kanlaon Volcano has been at Alert Level 2 since June 3 after it emitted plumes that rose to 5,000 meters. 

-- Mariel Celine Serquiña/ VAL, GMA Integrated News