161 Kanlaon evacuees remain in evacuation centers

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A majority of families who sought shelter in evacuation centers when Kanlaon Volcano erupted three weeks ago have returned home in La Castellana, Negros Occidental.

As of yesterday, there were only 39 families composed of 116 people remaining in evacuation centers, according to John de Asis, chief of the La Castellana disaster risk reduction and management office.

These families used to live in villages located within the four-kilometer-radius permanent danger zone of Kanlaon.

More than 4,000 residents sought shelter in evacuation centers when Kanlaon erupted on June 3.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said no one should be allowed within the volcano’s permanent danger zone and the area should remain unoccupied.

The municipal government of La Castellana is looking for a permanent relocation for familes living within Kanlaon’s danger zone.

State seismologists yesterday recorded four volcanic quakes around Kanlaon, which remains under alert Level 2.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it provided more P26 million worth of assistance to families displaced by Kanlaon’s eruption.

Meanwhile, the provincial veterinary office (PVO) in Negros Occidental reported that up to 3,421 animals died from ashfall and sulfur dioxide emission.

PVO officer-in-charge Ryan Janoya said the figure included 3,210 chickens and the rest were cattle, goats, swine, sheep and water buffalo.

The animals died of respiratory infection and digestive problems due to inhalation of sulfur, Janoya said.

The PVO conducted a series of veterinary medical missions last week in affected barangays to help animals recover from burns, injuries and digestive problems caused by the calamity.