Over 9,000 suffer from sulfuric smell, water contamination

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Two days after the Kanlaon Volcano ash eruptions, residents of Barangay Mailum in Bago City, Negros Occidental still complain of suffering from sulfuric stench as they also deal with a shortage of potable water.

Dr. Merijene Ortizo, local disaster management officer, said the barangay, which has a population of 9,827, was “badly affected by the ashfall” on Feb. 15.

She added that the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Bago City DRRMO are implementing water rationing in Sitios Lunao, Hagdan, Pataan and Tabidiao as well as in Purok Pili and Durarog – all in Mailum.

Ortizo said she requested the Bago City Health Office to conduct a water physicochemical analysis in the affected areas.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday reported having attended to the medical needs of 9,217 patients affected by Kanlaon’s unrest.

In its latest report, the DOH-Negros Island Region said the affected residents have sought medical consultations and were provided treatment for acute respiratory infection, fever, fever with other symptoms and other diseases.

The DOH also said six doctors, 43 nurses, 14 technical staff and 77 other health personnel were deployed in the affected areas.