Philippines Moves to Evacuate More Than 45,000 Residents Following Kanlaon Volcano Eruption
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Manila, Dec 13 (NationPress) Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos stated on Friday that the government has successfully evacuated over 45,000 residents from communities surrounding the active Kanlaon Volcano, which erupted on Monday.
Marcos mentioned that the government aims to evacuate approximately 84,000 villagers within the six-km danger zone from the volcano.
He emphasized that the government is prepared to support residents affected by the eruption, which has covered several villages with ash and polluted local drinking water sources, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
"We will increase our efforts. Any rise in damages and destruction will be addressed with a more robust government response," Marcos asserted.
Situated across the provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental on the island of Negros in the central Philippines, Kanlaon released a massive plume that ascended over 4,000 meters into the atmosphere on Monday afternoon.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology elevated the alert level to three on a scale of five, cautioning that a magmatic eruption has commenced, which could lead to more explosive eruptions, urging residents in and around the danger zone to evacuate promptly.
Consequently, the Philippine Office of Civil Defence reported that an "urgent" evacuation of roughly 87,000 individuals was in progress due to the Kanlaon Volcano eruption.
Residents residing within a 6-km radius of the volcano's peak are instructed to evacuate, with the institute advising the public to "be prepared for further evacuations if necessary."
Marcos appealed to the community, particularly those hesitant to leave their homes and farms, to prioritize safety by relocating to makeshift evacuation centers, such as schools temporarily converted into shelters.
The Kanlaon Volcano last erupted in June of this year. This volcano, which spans the provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental on the island of Negros, is among the country's most active volcanoes.
