OCD: Over 39,000 residents evacuated amid Kanlaon Volcano activity

A total of 39,258 persons or 9,942 families have been evacuated so far amid the activity of Kanlaon Volcano, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Wednesday.

In a press conference, OCD Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said authorities are targeting to evacuate 84,549 people or around 17,000 families within the six-kilometer danger zone.

“As we speak, we have already evacuated 46% of that or close to 39,258 persons or 9,942 families. They are now inside the evacuation centers and outside,” he said.

Food packs were given to the evacuees, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“The cost, as of now, of DSWD humanitarian assistance provided is a grand total of 4,736 family food packs na ipinamahagi na ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian yesterday sa Kanlaon. This costs P3.2 million,” said DSWD Director Cris Mathay.

Sleeping and hygiene kits worth P4.4 million were also given to the displaced residents.

On Monday, an explosive eruption occurred at the summit vent of Kanlaon Volcano, producing a voluminous plume that rapidly rose to 4,000 meters. Ashfall was reported and pyroclastic density currents or PDCs descended the slopes of the volcano.

Alert Level 3, which means “intensified or magmatic unrest,” was raised over Kanlaon Volcano.

Hazards from the volcano include sudden explosive eruption, lava flow or effusion, ashfall, pyroclastic density current (PDC), rockfall, and lahars during heavy rains, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

PHIVOLCS advised residents within the six-kilometer danger zone to leave their homes for their safety.
—RF, GMA Integrated News