MANILA – Evacuation of residents near Mount Kanlaon in Negros Island is one of the top priorities following the explosive eruption of the volcano, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Monday afternoon.
“Defense Secretary and NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) Chairman Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. has issued important directives to respond and assist immediately, particularly in evacuating affected residents to avoid casualties. Regional directors from the OCD in Regions 6 (Western Visayas) and 7 (Central Visayas) are actively engaged in these critical efforts,” it added.
It is estimated that approximately 12,000 families or 54,000 persons across Western and Central Visayas will be affected.
The OCD said emergency evacuation efforts are underway for the safety of the families.
Officials of the OCD, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology and other agencies convened an emergency meeting Monday afternoon even as evacuation is implemented for residents within the volcano’s six-kilometer radius.
The eruption produced a significant volcanic plume that reached approximately 3,000 meters above the volcano’s summit, with pyroclastic density currents observed descending the southeastern slopes.
The OCD’s Incident Action Command Center will be reactivated, comprising representatives from the health, social welfare and the local government departments to coordinate response efforts. (PNA)