CEBU, Philippines — Cebu island and Central Visayas (CV) are spared from any direct impact, especially the ashfall, following the eruption of Mount Kanlaon in Negros on Monday, Dec. 9.
Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-7 Director Joel Erestain said they consulted with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and were told that for now the province and the region are safe from the effects of Mt. Kanlaon’s eruption, since the wind is going in the west direction.
“So far westward po talaga ang winds. So hindi po, wala po direct effect. Yung Canlaon City, nasa east part from the crater. May mga parts na may kunting sulfuric… pero wala namang ashfall,” he told members of the Cebu media, in a phone interview.
“Dito naman po sa rest ng Central Visayas, including the rest of Negros Oriental, wala pa pong, as of now, hindi po papunta dito ang hangin,” he added.
But even when they are not affected by the eruption, local government units (LGUs) in the western part of Cebu have encouraged their residents to stay safe and put a mask in case there’s an ashfall.
“Mask up. Stay at home kung mahimo. Cover your water supplies” Barili Mayor John John Garcia advised his constituents.
The same advice was given by Toledo City to its constituents, especially those with respiratory conditions.
Wilson Ramos, Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) spokesperson, said they are continually monitoring LGUs in the west since the eruption.
Mount Kanlaon which is located in the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, made an explosive eruption past three pm on Dec. 9, that lasted three minutes and 55 seconds. The volcano emitted a gray plume reaching up to 3.4 kilometers from the crater, and released 1,669 tonnes a day of sulfur dioxide flux before the eruption.
Phivolcs recorded 20 volcanic quakes.
Currently, Mount Kanlaon remains at alert level 3 or “intensified unrest /magmatic unrest”, which means that those within the six-kilometer radius from the volcano’s crater should evacuate.
Erestain advised the public not to be complacent, especially with the changing behavior of the volcano.
“Yung akala mo biglang tatahimik, tapos biglang puputok. So, nakakatakot. Yung kanyang behavior, nagbigigay siya nga false kumbaga parang false signals ba,” he said.
Erestain said the government is preparing for the possibility that the alert level will be elevated to alert level 4 or up to level 5. If the alert level reaches 5, the entire Canlaon city will be affected.
“We’re preparing for the worst,” the regional director said.
Erestain also urged residents in Canlaon City, especially those in the six-kilometer danger zone areas, to leave and evacuate.
They are also coordinating with the military for the forced evacuation of residents living in the permanent danger zone.
“Ayokong takutin, pero gusto ko rin ipahanda talaga na maaring talagang pumutok at mas malakas pa sa putok po na nangyari kahapon, na pwedeng maulit ulit sa Mt. Kanlaon. Kaya po talagan we are asking them; we are pleading for our residents in Canlaon to help us help themselves,” he said.
Yesterday, Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas issued an executive order implementing the mandatory evacuation in specific sitios within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone.
Sitios included in the forced evacuation are Kalubihan, Bulong, Bubog, Upper Linothangan, and Cubay of Barangay Linothangan; Upper and Lower Mananawin, Matgabak, Manggabon and Alabasi of Barangay Masulog; Sitios of upper and proper Minabuntod;
Upper Pula, Proper Pula, Villa Iowa, Compound, upper and proper Pantao of barangay Pula; sitios Repolyo, Mapot, and Basecamp of barangay Malaiba, and sitio Repolyo of Barangay Lumapao. — (FREEMAN)