Negros Oriental Health Office issues advisory amid Kanlaon eruption

The Negros Oriental Health Office released a public health advisory amid the ongoing eruption of  Kanlaon  Volcano.

In an advisory on Monday, affected residents were  advised to take precautionary health measures and watch for the  following health issues:

• Acute and chronic respiratory diseases; difficulty breathing; suffocation
• Conjunctivitis; eye problems
• Rashes; itchy skin; skin disorders Diarrhea; stomach problems

Nearby barangays and municipalities were also advised to follow safety guidelines to avoid any effects from hazards caused by the volcanic eruption.

If you are in contact with the fumes, the health office affected locals to move away from the area immediately to avoid respiratory irritation.

It also advised to:

• Close all windows and doors. STAY SAFE INDOORS
• Turn off all fans and air-conditioning systems.
• Wear face masks, N95 if available
• Use protective goggles for your eyes
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors
• Always make sure that drinking water is safe and potable. Water might be contaminated.
• Boil drinking water
• If you are warned to evacuate, please evacuate
• If you are nearby rivers/streams, watch out for rising water levels
• For any symptoms, seek medical help immediately

Kanlaon Volcano explosively erupted and produced a voluminous plume that rose to 3,000 meters and magma at around 3:03 p.m. on  Monday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised an Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest) on the volcano.

According to PHIVOLCS chief Teresito Bacolcol, a hazardous eruption may be possible over the following weeks.

“Ang Alert Level 3 po ay nangangahulugan ng posibilidad na magkaroon ng  hazardous eruption in the following weeks,” Bacolcol told Unang Balita  in an interview.

(Alert Level 3 means there is a possibility of a hazardous eruption in the following weeks.)

“Pinapayuhan natin ang ating mga residente na huwag munang pumasok sa six-kilometer  danger zone. Kahapon, it was an explosion, a strong explosion kahapon  ang nangyari,” he added.

(We advise our residents not to enter the six-kilometer danger zone. Yesterday, it was an explosion, a strong explosion.)

See this for a list of areas within the 6-kilometer danger zone of Kanlaon Volcano — DVM, GMA Integrated News