Canlaon city: The local government unit (LGU) of Canlaon City in Negros Oriental is prepared to respond anytime in the event Mt. Kanlaon will erupt anew, an official said Monday. Seth Bariga, information officer of Canlaon City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), stated that the series of earthquakes felt in the past days has alerted authorities to prepare for a worst-case scenario.
According to Philippines News Agency, the LGU is ready to execute Oplan Exodus in case a volcanic eruption warrants mass evacuation of residents in the extended permanent danger zone (PDZ). Bariga mentioned that while Oplan Exodus is a contingency plan designed for an Alert Level 4 scenario, some of its components may be executed at a time when Alert Level 2 is currently in place.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), in its 8 a.m. advisory Monday, reported an increase in seismic activity at Kanlaon Volcano. The Kanlaon Volcano Network recorded a total of 72 volcanic-tectonic (VT) earthquakes between 12 a.m. and 8 a.m. Monday. Phivolcs also noted more earthquakes in the subsequent hours, which were felt in Canlaon City, La Carlota City, and Murcia in Negros Occidental. The increase in VT events could lead to increased chances of steam-driven or phreatic eruptions or short-lived weak to moderately explosive eruptions occurring at the summit, potentially generating life-threatening volcanic hazards.
Bariga further informed that the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) and the EOC are on standby alert for any eventuality. The Department of Social Welfare and Development has also prepositioned food packs and non-food items for immediate distribution. Meanwhile, 1,101 families, or 3,543 individuals, from the 4-km PDZ are still not allowed to return to their homes.
Out of the total displaced, 16 families or 65 individuals are staying at two evacuation centers, while 109 families or 375 individuals are staying with relatives outside the evacuation camps. In case of an eruption, Bariga mentioned that the LGU will coordinate with the Department of Education for schools that can be utilized as temporary shelters during mass evacuation or deploy modular tents to the barangay halls to accommodate a smaller number of displaced residents.