OCD: More evacuees expected due to 'intense ashfall' from Kanlaon's eruption

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Wednesday said that it is expecting more evacuees amid the intense ashfall following Kanlaon Volcano's "explosive eruption" on Tuesday.

“There are 2,000 families in the 22 evacuation centers, but this could increase because the ashfall is really intense due to the Kanlaon volcano explosion, reaching 4,000 meters or four kilometers [from the volcano]," said OCD spokesperson Chris Noel Bendijo in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

"We are monitoring residents in nearby areas in Bago, Canlaon, La Carlota, La Castellana and even San Carlos," he added. 

A report from Unang Balita on Tuesday also showed some areas in La Castellana covered in ash. Some roads had minimal visibility while residents tried to clean up the ash from their homes.

Meanwhile, the OCD said that local government units "have been responding well and have dispatched water filtration units and water trucks."

“Since February, we have been able to process 186,000 liters of water, and we have a standby of 690 sacks of rice, but admittedly, when it comes to food items, it is really challenging because when you stay at the evacuation for quite a while, we cannot have the same food intake over and over for a prolonged period,” Bendijo said.

Bendijo also said that there are 12,000 face masks in stock, but they are still looking at increasing this number.

Likewise, Bendijo said the Quick Response Fund of relevant government agencies is also available for the additional expenses.

“Every government agency has a QRF, and we can use this in this emergency situation,” Bendijo added.

The OCD has already said that it is already preparing should the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raise the alert level in Kanlaon to Alert Level 4 from Alert Level 3.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) also called for the evacuation of residents in the six-kilometer radius of Kanlaon Volcano.

In an April 9 update, the Phivolcs said that evacuation is needed given that the volcano had one explosive eruption, one ash emission, 15 volcanic earthquakes, as well as continuous degassing with occasional ash emission.

The possible hazards that can occur include the following:

• sudden explosive eruption

• lava flow or effusion

• ashfall

• pyroclastic density current 

• rockfall

• lahars during heavy rains

Malacañang has assured that assistance would be provided to those affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano. —Llanesca Panti/ VAL, GMA Integrated News